Kanye West is putting his foot down and insisting that everyone ditch his “slave name” for his legal name.
Known for his headline-grabbing antics, from his high-profile divorce from Kim Kardashian to his brief romance with Julia Fox and recent news about his new ‘wife’ Bianca Censori, Kanye remains a constant source of media buzz.
Currently, it’s his name that’s sparking debates.
The internet has mixed feelings about Kanye’s latest demand.
One commenter said, “That’s fine, I actually respect what people wish to be referred to as whether it be gender or name, that’s not a problem – but I still am not a fan of his antics.”
Another chimed in, “I’m sad that people don’t understand what he’s talking about.”
Kanye’s chief of staff, Milo Yiannopoulos, has officially requested in a letter that the rapper only be referred to by his chosen name.
A letter revealed by Page Six describes Kanye as “one of the most recognisable people in the world, on par with presidents and popes.” It emphasizes that Kanye did not make the decision to change his name lightly and acknowledges the financial implications of distancing himself from his globally recognized name.
Kanye’s desire to be called by his new name isn’t new.
In 2021, a Los Angeles court approved his petition to legally change his name to the mononym Ye, as reported by TMZ. The rapper even dropped his middle name.
Despite this legal change, media outlets have continued using both names interchangeably, a practice Yiannopoulos is keen to end.
Yiannopoulos is making efforts to communicate this change to “streaming platforms, publishers, stores, unions, lyrics websites and data resellers,” which he identifies as key influencers in public perception.
In a past interview with BigBoyTV, Kanye explained his name change, stating: “I believe ‘ye’ is the most commonly used word in the Bible, and in the Bible it means you. So I’m you, I’m us, it’s us.” He described the evolution from Kanye, which means “the only one,” to Ye, reflecting a broader sense of identity encompassing “our good, our bad, our confused, everything.”
After releasing his 2018 album titled ‘Ye,’ he hinted at his new identity on X, formerly known as Twitter, declaring himself “the being formally known as Kanye West.”
He firmly stated, “I am YE.”