Kanye West has admitted that he was intoxicated when he posted an antisemitic tweet in October 2022, which resulted in backlash and severed business relationships.
During an episode of Candace Owens’ podcast “Candace,” recorded in 2022 but released recently, the 47-year-old rapper conceded that alcohol influenced his inflammatory remarks. “I was drinking when I put up the DEFCON tweet,” West shared on the podcast, revealing his choice of alcohol was Hennessy, which he claimed brought out “the demons.”
Owens, curious about the delay in this revelation, questioned West, who explained he had withheld the information to avoid undermining the perceived truth in his words.
West has previously blamed alcohol for his controversial actions, like his notorious interruption of Taylor Swift’s speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Reflecting on that incident during the 2015 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award acceptance, he pondered whether he would have acted differently without alcohol. “Would I have worn a leather shirt? Would I have drunk half a bottle of Hennessy and given the rest to the audience?” he mused, acknowledging the lasting impact of that night.
The ramifications of his 2022 tweet were immediate. West faced suspension from Twitter, and several brands, including Adidas, Balenciaga, and Gap, distanced themselves by terminating partnerships with him.
Despite the uproar and financial hits, West initially stood by his statements. In a later interview with Piers Morgan, he maintained he was “absolutely not” sorry, although he expressed regret for any hurt and confusion caused.
West’s controversies continued with another antisemitic episode in Las Vegas, where he embarked on a 10-minute rant involving disparate figures like Jesus Christ, Hitler, and Donald Trump. He later apologized for these “unintended” outbursts. Still, his reputation suffered further when he was seen wearing a shirt with a neo-Nazi figure, and former employees accused him of expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler.
