Kanye West Plays James Blake Collaboration, Wears “White Lives Matter” Shirt at Paris Fashion Week Show
Kanye West is at Paris Fashion Week. First, he walked the runway for Balenciaga. He then presented his own Yzy Szn 9 fashion show. At the show, West wore a long-sleeve T-shirt with the phrase “WHITE LIVES MATTER” emblazoned on the back. On the front is an image of Pope John Paul II and the words “Seguiremos Tu Ejemplo,” which translate in English to “We Will Follow Your Example.” As Rolling Stone points out, “White Lives Matter” is categorized by the Anti-Defamation League as a “hate slogan” that’s been used by white supremacist groups including the Ku Klux Klan and the Aryan Renaissance Society.
Yzy Szn 9 was streamed on YouTube. Naomi Campbell walked during the fashion show, which was, at a point, soundtracked by a new West collaboration with James Blake seemingly titled “Always.”
In an interview with Vogue, West explained the concept behind his new collection: “There’s just people. From the same planet. And sometimes, in high school, it feels like we don’t fit in. And in a situation like this, we have the opportunity to come together to express who we are.”
West has a history of controversial political remarks and gestures, such as regularly wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat in support of former President Donald J. Trump. In addition, in 2018, West memorably said on TMZ Live, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years—for 400 years?—that sound like a choice,” although he later attempted to walk back the remark.