Summary
*This summary was initially generated with AI but is modifiable by usersThe interview between Piers Morgan and
Kanye West (who now goes by "Ye") took place following controversy over
statements West made that were deemed antisemitic. Morgan begins by asking West what he hopes to achieve from their conversation, to which West responds that he wants to speak uncensored, noting that American media is heavily censored and comparing it to an episode of "Black Mirror."
West's Political Stance and Experiences
West discusses his experience wearing a Trump hat in 2015, claiming it resulted in threats to his life and damaged his family. He expresses frustration about being expected to vote as part of a "black vote" bloc, stating, "you never heard the term white vote." He mentions his father calling him to say that what the "left" fears most is that he's rich, referencing Tupac's advice to "get your money right and then go to war."West claims to have about $120 million in his account and explains his motivation to fight is to ensure his children can eventually take over his Yeezy brand without being controlled by corporate boards. He contrasts himself with other Black entertainment figures who, in his view, didn't fight when they were at the height of their careers, citing Bill Cosby's failed attempt to buy NBC.
Religious and Cultural Identity
West identifies himself as Jewish, stating, "I am Jew, also the 12 lost tribes of Judah." He argues that if Black Americans understood they were a culture and people, similar to how Jewish people understand their heritage, they would experience less community violence and family breakdown. He also claims that "the most dangerous place for a Black person in America is actually in our mother's stomachs," asserting that 50% of Black deaths in America are from abortion.
Free Speech and Controversy
When Morgan asks about limits to free speech, West argues there should be none, comparing his situation to how Quentin Tarantino can create contexts in films like "Django Unchained" where offensive language is permitted. West claims to be "top five writers in human existence" and compares himself to figures like Freud, Nikolai Tesla, and Da Vinci.The conversation turns tense when Morgan pushes West about his
tweet stating he was "going death con 3 on Jewish people." Morgan argues this language is racist, while West defends his statement by explaining he was referring to Jewish businessmen who he believes wronged him in business dealings. West initially refuses to apologize, claiming the media is pressing an agenda about Jewish people while ignoring the pain Black people have experienced.Morgan presses West on why he specifically mentions the Jewish identity of businessmen who wronged him rather than simply referring to them as businessmen. West eventually acknowledges that his wording lacked "sophistication" and was divisive, which is contrary to his role as a "conductor" who should bring people together.
Mental Health Discussion
When discussing mental health, West rejects the suggestion he has a mental illness, instead attributing his challenges to "exhaustion" and being "lied to constantly by the people around me." He objects to Morgan's use of offensive terminology regarding mental health, later acknowledging that the word is harmful to people with genuine mental health conditions.
George Floyd Comments
Morgan confronts West about
controversial comments he made regarding George Floyd's death. West questions the official narrative of Floyd's death and suggests there may be more to the story, referencing a documentary where Floyd's roommates claimed "they want a tall guy like me" and noting Floyd prayed longer than usual on the day of his death. Morgan pushes back, citing the medical examiner's findings that Floyd died from cardiopulmonary arrest caused by police restraint.West compares the situation to how JFK's death has multiple documentaries and theories, while with Floyd, he believes people are expected to accept only one narrative. The Floyd family is suing West for $250 million for his comments.
Media Criticism
Throughout the interview, West repeatedly criticizes the media, particularly what he calls "Zionist media handlers" surrounding his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. He claims the media plays a role in the "Tuskegee experiment" of removing fathers from Black homes and communities. He expresses frustration about media focusing on mass shootings like Uvalde while ignoring gun violence in Chicago, claiming at least "14 kids are killed in Chicago every week."
Family and Kim Kardashian
Regarding his relationship with Kim Kardashian, West describes himself as "still the priest of that home" despite their divorce. He criticizes an Interview Magazine cover featuring Kardashian, suggesting it represented poor taste. While acknowledging they are divorced, West maintains they "will always be together" because "she dresses exactly like me" and "my kids are me."West speaks about buying a house that previously belonged to Lisa Marie Presley to surprise Kim, then notes that
Drake moved five blocks away. He mentions having an office outside Crenshaw where Tucker Carlson visited him, and looking out the window to see a new Skims office (Kim's brand) being built nearby, calling this evidence of "God's sense of humor."
Business and Race
West discusses his stem player device, which he claims had "the most successful launch in Tech History." During a discussion about staffing his company, he mentions learning they had only two Black employees out of 60 staff members, which made him reflect on his responsibility as "the richest Black man" to ensure he's hiring Black people.He argues that other ethnic and religious groups prioritize hiring their own people, stating, "Chinese people hire Chinese people and Jewish people hire Jewish people and Catholics hire Catholics." He criticizes Black Americans for giving their companies to people like Bernard Arnault or Mark Zuckerberg.
Politics and Leadership
West hints at political ambitions, noting he's "not allowed to say whether or not I'm running for office in 2024." He criticizes "the left" for not supporting Trump and claims they "would have never supported me anyway." He suggests Bernie Sanders would have been a better candidate than Biden, saying Bernie had "too much of a conscience."When asked about Vladimir Putin and Ukraine, West states he doesn't believe in war and thinks America could have avoided the conflict, but that "Biden has reasons for us to be at war right now for selfish reasons." He declines to elaborate further without consulting his political advisors.
Apology and Reconciliation
Toward the end of the interview, after Morgan's persistent questioning, West offers an apology for his antisemitic comments. He acknowledges he caused "hurt and confusion" and says, "I want to give you guys a big hug and I want to say I'm sorry for hurting you with my comments." He explains he had been frustrated by business dealings, particularly with Gap, but recognizes that holding an apology "hostage" is not "Godlike."However, West emphasizes that the conversation shouldn't end with his apology. He reiterates his concerns about unfair contracts in the music industry and asks Morgan to help him bring attention to these issues, particularly to help athletes at his school who are headed to the NBA. Morgan agrees to this proposition.
Celebrity References
Throughout the interview, West mentions numerous other celebrities and business figures:- Compares himself to Matisse (saying "Drake is more Picasso and Ye is more Matisse")- References John Galliano and Marc Jacobs as "the exact same human being just placed in a different place"- Mentions Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, Trump, Jack Ma, and Putin as people who "can start to feel like Gods on Earth"- Discusses his interactions with Dov Charney who was "kicked out of his company out of American Apparel"- Names David Simon at Gap regarding frustrations over store openings- Criticizes John Legend and Chrissy Teigen for talking "down on the president"- Mentions George Soros, saying "you're a real competitor"- References Michael B. Jordan when discussing contracts- Cites legal figures like Johnny Cochran and Robert Kardashian
Style and Approach
The interview is marked by West's stream-of-consciousness communication style, with frequent tangents, interruptions, and refusals to answer certain questions directly. He often cuts Morgan off with "la la la la" to signify he wants to finish speaking. Morgan attempts to maintain control of the conversation while giving West space to express himself.The exchange becomes heated at several points, particularly when discussing antisemitism and George Floyd. West accuses Morgan of being "a Karen" and pressing an agenda, while Morgan repeatedly challenges West on what he sees as racist language.By the interview's conclusion, which lasted approximately two hours, West expresses mixed feelings about having apologized, saying he feels like he "lost my stone I was holding," but that he "had to give it up to God." Morgan expresses satisfaction with their conversation and where they ended up, while West requests Morgan's help in exposing problems in entertainment industry contracts.Throughout the interview, West weaves together themes of religion, race, business, media criticism, and personal grievances, presenting a complex picture of his worldview while attempting to justify controversial statements that had placed him in the center of public backlash.*There may be errors on this page.