“But he made Graduation” is a quote many Kanye West fans are familiar with, however, Graduation might not cut it anymore. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has posted a thread of uncensored tweets on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) sparking major controversy. Since the 2024 Grammys, where Ye’s wife, Bianco Censori, wore a sheer, see-through dress, Ye has posted a series of bizarre tweets saying a variety of unfiltered statements such as “I TURNED DOWN 3 PHOTOS THIS WEEK WITH MAKE A WISH KIDS IN WHEELCHAIRS,” and antisemitic remarks such as “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi,” garnering the attention and confusion of the masses.
This isn’t the first time Ye has posted antisemitic remarks, with an interview with Alex Jones in 2022 saying “Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler.” Jokes have been made saying if Ye had said “even” instead of “especially” refuted by others due to his previous history of antisemitic behavior. These tweets have gained the attention of the internet with various memes and videos being posted about how Kanye is “losing it”, using phrases such as “but he made Graduation” as a joking defense due to the album’s popularity.
The statement “but he made Graduation” stands as a representation of those who would defend Ye with the idea that he made a brilliant album in 2007. With Ye’s statements, his fanbase is finding it increasingly more difficult to support him. “It’s getting to the point where this is his brand now and it’s extremely difficult to separate the art from the artist,” says Australian educational YouTuber Lessons in Meme Culture. The idea of separating art from the artist is a long-standing discussion, but also one that Ye fans are finding extremely difficult to justify as of right now.
As many online believe Ye is “losing it” or saying these things for attention, the full story may not be clear to everyone. In a conversation on “The Download” podcast with Justin Laboy, Ye stated he was previously misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, correcting his disorder to autism. “I went to this doctor … My wife took me to do that because she said, ‘Something about your personality doesn’t feel like it’s bipolar, I’ve seen bipolar before.’ And I’ve come to find that it’s really a case of autism that I have,” Ye said.
Ye’s use of his platform to spread hate cannot and should not be excused by his disabilities. Multiple times before, Ye has said similar things with and without a newly diagnosed disorder. Ye shouldn’t be held to a different standard just because of his influence or past contributions to music. While his impact on hip-hop and overall culture is undeniable, his recent actions have left even his most loyal fans questioning their support. Many argue that Ye’s behavior is a result of his struggles with mental health, while others believe he is fully aware of the controversy he creates, causing it for attention.
As Ye’s reputation continues to decline due to his actions, the question remains: Can the art truly be separated from the artist, or has Ye created a version of himself that makes Graduation and all of his past discography impossible to enjoy without supporting the artist?
