Milo Yiannopoulos has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Louisiana.
Yiannopoulos, 41, the British political commentator who became a prominent figure in Ye’s orbit, is reportedly still being held at an ICE detention center, although the circumstances surrounding his detention have not been made clear. The development comes as Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday night.
It was not immediately clear whether Yiannopoulos was in Louisiana in connection with the show. The outlet was first to report the detention on Friday, August 28, while detention records reviewed by Complex listed Yiannopoulos as being “in ICE custody” at the time of publication.
Yiannopoulos rose to prominence as a far-right provocateur and media personality before aligning himself with Ye during the rapper’s controversial 2024 presidential campaign. The commentator had previously worked as an aide to the artist, who has since faced his own wave of public backlash over antisemitic remarks and other inflammatory statements.
The timing of the detention has drawn attention given Ye’s scheduled performance in New Orleans, with speculation swirling about whether the two events are connected. Neither Yiannopoulos nor representatives for Ye have issued public statements addressing the situation.
ICE has not publicly commented on the specific reasons for Yiannopoulos’s detention or indicated how long he might remain in custody. The agency typically holds individuals pending immigration proceedings or removal actions, though details remain scarce in this case.
Yiannopoulos’s immigration status has been a subject of interest since his rise in American political circles. The British national has lived in the United States for years, building a career that shifted from tech journalism to alt-right stardom before flaming out amid controversies of his own.
In the viral moment that originally connected the two figures, Yiannopoulos joined Ye’s campaign operation during the rapper’s ill-fated 2024 presidential run, a period marked by chaotic appearances and increasingly extreme rhetoric from the artist. The partnership placed Yiannopoulos back in the spotlight after years of marginalization following his fall from mainstream conservative favor.
The outlet has approached ICE for comment on the detention.
Ye is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday night.