Studio Shelves Completed Documentary About Kanye West

Kanye West arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2020. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

A film studio has shelved a documentary about rapper Kanye West after he made a number of recent remarks in interviews and on social media that were accused of being anti-semitic.

Executives from MRC Entertainment said it was shelving a completed documentary about West, saying the company “cannot support any content that amplifies his platform.”

In a lengthy statement, the company’s directors accused West of rehashing “the lie that Jews are evil and conspire to control the world,” which the company’s directors noted has resurfaced in different times and places “for over 3,000 years.”

West, who is legally known as Ye, received criticism after he wore a shirt with the words “White Lives Matters” on it while in Paris, France, on Oct. 3. West, who is also a fashion designer, was there to promote his Yeezy Season 9 collection.

“The answer to why I wrote ‘White Lives Matter’ on a shirt is because they do,” West later said in an interview with Fox News’s Tucker Carlson. “It’s the obvious thing.”

West later shared screenshots on Instagram of a text message conversation with rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, who appeared to criticize West for wearing the shirt. In response, West suggested that some “Jewish people” had encouraged Diddy to “threaten or influence” West.

In other controversial comments, West has also suggested slavery was a choice and called the COVID-19 vaccine the “mark of the beast.”

MRC’s decision to shelve the film comes days after French fashion house Balenciaga cut ties with the rapper and fashion designer, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

Remarks

Shortly after West shared his texts with Diddy, he was locked out of his Instagram account. He then took to Twitter, where he posted a controversial message that also got him suspended.

“I’m a bit sleepy tonight, but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE, ” West wrote. ‘The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jews also. You guys have toyed with me and tried to blackball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

West appeared to be referring to the U.S. Armed Forces’ heightened readiness status DEFCON 3.

The American Jewish Committee said in a statement after this incident that West should “figure out how to make a point without using antisemitism.” The group accused West of fomenting “hatred of Jews.”

JP Morgan Chase also reportedly withdrew its business with West’s company, according to conservative commentator Candace Owens.

Owens shared a letter reportedly from JPMorgan Chase indicating that the bank will terminate its business relationship with Yeezy and its affiliated entities by Nov. 21.

West’s estranged wife, Kim Kardashian, and other members of her family have also condemned antisemitism.