Summary
Kanye West sparked controversy at the 2013 Seattle kickoff of his
Yeezus world tour through both his performance and merchandise. The show featured a Jesus Christ look-alike on stage, while the tour merchandise prominently displayed Confederate flag imagery, including a skeleton draped in the flag on t-shirts and the flag printed on tote bags. This provocative use of a symbol historically associated with racism appeared to be West's attempt to redefine or reclaim the controversial imagery, connecting to themes of racism explored throughout his
Yeezus album. His creative director Virgil Abloh described the merchandise as "a collection of thoughts," suggesting these weren't merely concert souvenirs but intentional artistic statements designed to challenge audiences.*There may be errors on this page.
