Kanye West recently stated on the Drink Champs podcast that Kid Rock texted him after Kanye was banned from Twitter and Instagram for alleged antisemetic posts, “Go to places where you’re celebrated, not just tolerated.”
Kanye West set to acquire conservative social media platform Parler
It has been noted that Kanye West is acquiring Parler which is the alternative social media platform favored by many conservatives. Parler’s parent company announced the deal on Monday morning, saying West had made “a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again.”
The acquisition comes after West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, had his account temporarily locked by Twitter this month over an antisemitic tweet.
However, the exact terms of the Parler deal weren’t revealed, though Parler said it must still enter into a definitive agreement with West and expects to close in the fourth quarter. Parler’s parent, Parlement Technologies, would remain involved by providing technical services and cloud support.
Buying Parler could make West the latest celebrity owner of a social media platform after former President Donald Trump’s bid to win over conservatives with Truth Social and Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s proposed acquisition of Twitter. It also highlights how a small group of wealthy men, some of whom were banned or suspended themselves for incendiary remarks, are looking to own social media platforms in an effort to bolster what they call “free speech.”
“In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” West said in a release by Parler.
As part of the announcement, Parler linked to West’s account on the platform, which appeared to have launched simultaneously. It has been noted that as of early Monday, the account had roughly 500 followers.
