Kanye: 400 Years of Slavery 'Sounds Like a Choice'

West's statement is met with uproar
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 1, 2018 7:01 PM CDT
Updated May 2, 2018 3:43 AM CDT
Kanye West Calls Slavery a 'Choice'
In this Aug. 28, 2016, file photo. Kanye West appears at the MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York.   (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

Kanye West has wasted no time causing another stir, calling American slavery "a choice," the AP reports. In an interview Tuesday on TMZ Live, West said, "When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years, that sounds like a choice." He continued, "Like, you was there for 400 years and it's all of y'all?! It's like we're mentally in prison." TMZ's Van Lathan cracked back at West saying he's not a free-thinker, he's actually not thinking at all. Political commentator Symone Sanders tweeted she was "disgusted" with the remarks and called West "a dangerous caricature." USA Today rounds up Twitter reactions to West's slavery remarks, which came after questions on the rapper's provocative posts and pictures in support of President Donald Trump last week.

West also told TMZ he became addicted to opioids that doctors prescribed after he had liposuction surgery in 2016. He was hospitalized for a week and had to cut short a tour. Also Tuesday, West's interview last month with radio host Charlamagne Tha God was released; CNN has a recap, including West's discussion of his 2016 breakdown—or, as he calls it, a breakthrough—and why he believes his beef with Taylor Swift changed things for him. He also said he wishes former President Obama would apologize to him for calling him a "jackass" after he interrupted Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards: He suggested Obama should say something like, "I'm the leader of the free world, Ye, I'm sorry for calling you a jackass. I appreciate your honesty. I appreciate your Gemini, your Tupacness. I appreciate that someone is going to do it, but I'm president and I can't do it."

(More Kanye West stories.)

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