Madame Tussauds has removed Kanye West’s wax figure from public view, becoming the latest institution to “drop” the US rapper following antisemitic and anti-black remarks.
The iconic London museum relocated the rapper’s figure to an archive room, a symbolic representation of his recent fall from grace, during which he lost his talent representation, connections to major fashion houses, and other lucrative relationships.
Many are wondering if Ye’s decades-long career is over after sportswear brand Adidas ended its estimated €250 million partnership with him, reportedly costing him his billionaire status.
“Ye’s figure has been retired from the attraction floor to our archive,” a spokesperson for Madame Tussauds London said. “Each profile earns their place at Madame Tussauds London and we listen to our guests and the public on who they expect to see at the attraction.”
The figurine debuted at the museum in 2015, alongside a waxwork of his then-wife Kim Kardashian.
Ye was ranked number 1,513 on Forbes’ rich list earlier this year, valued at $2 billion (£1.7 billion) due to his fashion brands and Adidas deal. Forbes now values the rapper at $400 million, owing to “real estate, cash, his music catalog, and a 5% stake in ex-wife Kardashian’s shapewear firm, Skims.”
CAA has announced that it has dropped Ye, and the Balenciaga fashion house has also reportedly severed ties with the 45-year-old. A finished documentary about him has also been canceled.
Kardashian and members of her family have recently called for an end to “terrible violence and hateful rhetoric” directed at Jews.
For weeks, Ye has been spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories in interviews and on social media. Earlier this month, the black rapper was chastised for wearing a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt to the presentation of his latest collection at Paris Fashion Week.
He has consistently faced criticism for his comments and actions, such as wearing the red “Make America Great Again” hat and publicly supporting Donald Trump. Slavery was also declared a “choice,” and abolitionist Harriet Tubman “never actually freed the slaves,” according to Ye.
When a jury concluded that Floyd was murdered by police officers, Floyd’s family announced plans to sue Ye over his claim that Floyd died from fentanyl use.
Ye has bipolar disorder and was previously hospitalized for a psychiatric emergency, but experts warn that his prejudices must be separated from any mental health issues.
Meanwhile, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stated that the comments were “awful,” but that his music would continue to be available on the platform. Ek went on to say that it would be up to the rapper’s label, Universal Music’s Def Jam, to pull the content.