Latest news with #2020VanityFairOscarParty
Kuwait Times
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Kanye West's pro-Hitler song gets millions of views on X
Kanye West attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd annual Oscars at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on February 9, 2020. --AFP A new song by rapper Kanye West glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler has racked up millions of views on Elon Musk's X platform, after it was banned by other sites such as YouTube. West -- the winner of 24 Grammys over the course of his career in hip-hop -- in recent years has made repeated anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi statements. "Heil Hitler" was released on May 8 by the 47-year-old artist who now prefers to go by Ye -- the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. As of Saturday, the video had been seen nearly 10 million times. In the clip, dozens of Black men -- wearing animal pelts and masks, and standing in a block formation -- chant the title of the song, as West raps about being misunderstood and his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator. NBC News cited a YouTube spokesperson as saying: "We removed the content and will continue to take down reuploads." Reddit also told NBC that it would remove any versions of the song from its platform, with a spokesperson adding: "Hate and anti-Semitism have absolutely no place on Reddit." The song has also been removed from streaming platforms Spotify and Apple Music. Since Musk purchased Twitter (now X) in 2022, he has allowed hate speech and disinformation on the site, positioning himself as a champion of free speech. But critics say the Tesla and SpaceX chief is amplifying those who share his political beliefs. Musk has become a close ally of President Donald Trump, and donated $277 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates in the 2024 election. X did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP. In February, West's X account was deactivated after a days-long rant that included vitriolic, anti-Semitic outbursts. He also repeatedly referred to himself as a "Nazi." Also in February, the website of his Yeezy fashion brand was taken offline after plain white T-shirts with a swastika went on sale. The rapper had been locked out of social media platforms in the past, notably when he was banned from X for nearly eight months for violating rules barring incitement to violence. Adidas cut ties with West in 2022 after allegations of anti-Semitism against him. The partnership was one of the most successful sportswear tie-ups in history, and the resulting Yeezy range went on to help make West a billionaire. As of Saturday, Forbes put his net worth at $400 million. For years, West has spoken openly about struggles with bipolar disorder. He has said on "The Download" podcast that he has been diagnosed with autism. - AFP
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Marilyn Manson Misses Charting His First No. 1 Hit — Again
Marilyn Manson's 'In the Air Tonight' opens at No. 2 on the Official Physical Singles chart in the ... More U.K., narrowly missing the top spot after selling out its limited run. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Marilyn Manson attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by) Despite serious allegations of abuse and multiple court cases, Marilyn Manson's fanbase has remained steadfast and stuck by his side for years now. The rocker has largely evaded facing consequences for multiple accusations, and is once again on the path to musical stardom. He demonstrated his continued popularity with Assassination Under God – Chapter 1, his latest album, which arrived in late 2024. That set produced a handful of successful singles in the rock space, and now the controversial musician is back with another tune. Manson recently released a cover of "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins. His take on the pop/rock classic is predictably darker thanks to the fact that he added his own twist to the cut, and that move seems to have resonated with many of his followers. The track was issued as a CD single and made available in extremely limited quantities, as only 4,000 copies were produced. There was clearly interest in new work from the rocker, as the song sold out almost immediately. In the United Kingdom, "In the Air Tonight" appears on three rosters that track pure purchases. It opens highest on the Official Physical Singles chart, which makes sense, given Manson's focus on the CD format. The tune starts at No. 2, just missing out on opening in the top spot. Only one tune, "It's Amazing to Be Young" by Fontaines D.C., kept Manson from hitting No. 1. That cut vaults from No. 78, where it debuted the previous frame, to the top spot. Manson has never reached the summit on the Official Physical Singles chart, though he's come close before. In 2020, he peaked at No. 2 with his version of the American folk song "God's Gonna Cut You Down." Looking at his discography, Manson has landed five tracks inside the top 10 on that tally out of 17 total appearances. "In the Air Tonight" also manages to become a bestseller on two other rankings. It launches at No. 15 on the general Official Singles Sales chart and comes in at No. 37 on the Official Singles Downloads tally. That performance shows that fans of the rocker preferred to buy the track in a physical format, rather than downloading it on platforms like iTunes.
