VENICE, ITALY: Kanye West has led a rollercoaster life. From his notorious interruption of Taylor Swift's MTV VMA speech, turbulent divorce from Kim Kardashian, and a phase marked by controversial antisemitic outbursts, the rapper has consistently hogged the headlines, mostly for the wrong reasons.
However, the 'Runaway' singer's sudden disappearance left everyone pondering his whereabouts, only for him to stage a dramatic comeback with his new wife, Bianca Censori. Since then, the pair has drawn considerable scrutiny for their risque public appearances, including the most recent NSFW boat excursion in Venice.
A Venetian boat rental company has imposed a lifetime ban on the rapper and his Australian wife after they were spotted engaging in an intimate moment on the water taxi, with West exposing his bare buttocks in front of gawking bystanders. Now, let's delve into some of the most bizarre stunts that West has orchestrated.
Kanye West offends Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel sued the rapper for copyright in 2007 after a video showed him allegedly impersonating the daredevil. The lawsuit, filed in Tampa, claimed West's 'Touch the Sky' video was “vulgar, sexual and racially charged" and damaged Knievel’s reputation.
Kanye West and Taylor Swift's infamous feud
One of the most famous celebrity conflicts in history, the decade-long feud between West and Taylor ignited at the MTV VMAs several years ago. During the awards show, West infamously stormed the stage, interrupting Taylor's acceptance speech for the Best Female Video Award for 'You Belong With Me'.
He declared that Beyonce should have won, stating, "Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you. I'mma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time!" The feud began at the VMAs but saw numerous twists and turns over the years, with West even calling Taylor a "b***h," as per BBC.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian's provocative 'Famous' video
West's 'Famous' video remains a topic of discussion among netizens to this day due to its highly controversial content. The daring video showcases 12 naked celebrities sharing a bed with West and Kim.
Among the naked wax figures featured in the music video are Taylor, George W Bush, Donald Trump, Anna Wintour, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Ray J, Amber Rose, Caitlyn Jenner, and Bill Cosby.
Kanye West's $53 million debt
West made headlines in 2016 when it was widely reported that he was facing a substantial debt of $53 million. To address this financial challenge, the 'I Wonder' artist took to Twitter and publicly appealed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to invest $1 billion in his creative endeavors and ideas, as he was personally struggling with the burden.
Kanye West on slavery as a 'choice'
During an interview, West once made a controversial statement, saying, "When you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a choice."
The rapper went on to elaborate, "You were there for 400 years, and it's all of y'all. It's like we're mentally imprisoned." These remarks ignited a firestorm on Twitter, prompting West to offer further clarification.
"To make myself clear. Of course, I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will. My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved," he said.
"The reason why I brought up the 400 years point is that we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea. Once again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas," he added, as per Vanity.
'President' Kanye West
West's firestorm Saint Pablo tour made waves not just for his music but also for his controversial actions. While on tour, West didn't hold back, taking his rants beyond music and into the realm of politics. In a surprising move, he openly expressed support for Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Their meeting at Trump Tower to discuss multicultural issues added more fuel to the fire. In an even more astonishing turn of events, the 'Stronger' singer threw his hat into the political ring and ran as an independent candidate in the 2020 Presidential elections. As history shows, the race didn't go too well for the rapper.
Kanye West vs Kris Jong-Un
During his presidential campaign, West generated significant attention on Twitter by using the nickname "Kris Jong-Un" to refer to his mother-in-law, Kris Jenner, in a series of now-deleted posts.
In these tweets, the 'Flashing Lights' artist shared his thoughts about his relationships with Kris and his wife, Kim, stating, "They tried to fly in with 2 doctors to 51/50 me. I been trying to get divorced since Kim met with Meek at the Warldolf for ‘prison reform.’ I got 200 more to go. This my lady tweet of the night … Kris Jong-Un. Lil baby my favorite rapper but won’t do a song wit me," reported Just Jared.
Kanye West vs Kim Kardashian
Kim and West, once regarded as an iconic power couple, found that their relationship could not withstand the test of time. The couple shares four children and officially filed for divorce in 2021.
However, in the months following their divorce filing, West made multiple attempts to reconcile with Kim, thrusting them back into the spotlight.
Unfortunately, West's efforts to win Kim back took a troubling turn when he began publicly sharing screenshots of their private conversations.
Early in 2022, he addressed his consistent use of capital letters in all his Instagram captions and across his social media, expressing remorse for his actions and acknowledging that they had exacerbated the situation.
“I know sharing screenshots was jarring and came off as harassing Kim. I take accountability,” he wrote. “I’m still learning in real-time. I don’t have all the answers. To be [a] good leader is to be a good listener.”
West added in his now-deleted post, “I’ve learned that using all caps makes people feel like I’m screaming at them," as per Insider.
Kanye West on 'White lives matter'
West broke the internet with his 2022 Paris Fashion Week appearance while wearing a T-shirt with the slogan 'White Lives Matter.' He made this statement while attending a surprise show for his Yeezy's Season 9 collection during PFW.
The controversial T-shirt featured the Pope's face on the front and the words "White Lives Matter" on the back, a design that was also worn by some models presenting the Yeezy collection.
This was followed by a series of controversial tweets, including some targeting Jews, which resulted in West losing lucrative partnerships with Balenciaga, GAP, and Adidas. Once considered a billionaire, West's net worth plummeted in a matter of weeks, now standing at USD 410 million, as per CA Knowledge.
Kanye West vs Adidas
Just a day after Adidas terminated its multi-million-dollar partnership with West due to his antisemitic remarks, the rapper, now going by the name Ye, made an uninvited appearance at the offices of footwear manufacturer Skechers in Los Angeles, California, presumably in an attempt to secure a new deal.
Skechers officials confirmed that the 'Gold Digger' rapper had a brief conversation with two of their representatives but was subsequently escorted out of the building. The organization issued a statement explaining that West had arrived at their office building ''unannounced and without invitation," reported Fortune.
Kanye West vs Italy
West recently made headlines with his trip to Italy, accompanied by his new wife, Bianca. The duo were spotted sunbathing in Florence amid their seemingly never-ending vacation.
However, their visit has not been without its fair share of controversy, particularly due to Bianca's choice of attire, which has sparked outrage among locals. Her preference for transparent mesh ensembles that showcased her jaw-dropping figure has caused a stir among the residents of Italy.
This drew disapproval from onlookers and even prompted calls to the police, with some reportedly advocating for her arrest on grounds of inappropriate dressing.
West, on the other hand, opted for a more subdued appearance, dressed in a black sweater and baggy trousers as he strolled barefoot through the city streets holding an open bottle of champagne.
