Kanye West’s YZY Paris fashion week runway show has ignited furious backlash and widespread criticism from industry insiders and celebrities alike. The controversy erupted when West unveiled a shirt emblazoned with the slogan “White Lives Matter” during his Yeezy fashion show in Paris. Notably, Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson condemned West’s decision, labeling it as an “incredibly irresponsible and dangerous act.” Unsurprisingly, West retaliated, hurling mocking remarks about Karefa-Johnson’s appearance on Instagram. Although these posts have been deleted, West persisted in defending his stance through subsequent Instagram messages, including one where he controversially proclaimed that “Black Lives Matter is a scam.”
Supermodel Gigi Hadid swiftly came to Karefa-Johnson’s defense, accusing West of engaging in bullying behavior. Vogue further extended their support to their esteemed global fashion editor at large via an Instagram post, unequivocally asserting, “Vogue stands with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson… She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable.” The post underscored the significance of voices like Karefa-Johnson’s and confirmed that she had a private meeting with West in an attempt to address their differences.
Attempting to quell the firestorm, West subsequently made another Instagram post, claiming that he had met with Karefa-Johnson to reconcile their disagreements, referring to her as his “sister.” He contended, “Gabby is my sister. I’m not letting people go to bed thinking I didn’t meet with Gabrielle at 5 PM today for 2 hours then we went to dinner at Ferdie.” Nevertheless, West’s latest collection continued to evoke offense among many. Notably, Jaden Smith walked out of the show and later expressed his disapproval on Twitter, asserting, “I don’t care who it is, if I don’t feel the message, I’m out.”
The Yeezy Season 9 event marked West’s fourth fashion show in Paris since he first ventured into design in 2011. However, this recent controversy has sparked an unprecedented level of backlash, with countless individuals condemning West’s decision to showcase the “White Lives Matter” slogan and criticizing his attacks on Karefa-Johnson. The fashion industry and the public at large continue to voice their opinions, emphasizing the vital importance of responsible and respectful actions within the fashion community.
Useful links:
1. Vogue’s report on the Kanye West Yeezy Season 9 controversy
2. The New York Times coverage of Kanye West’s YZY Paris fashion show and backlash
