In a surprising turn of events, X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has reinstated Kanye West’s account after an eight-month suspension. The musician and designer, who now goes by the name Ye, had his account suspended last fall for violating the platform’s policy against incitement to violence when he posted a picture combining a swastika with the Star of David.
X, now owned by Elon Musk, clarified that while Ye’s account is reinstated, he will not be eligible to monetize it, and advertisements won’t appear alongside his posts. The decision to reinstate his account came after receiving reassurances from Kanye West that he wouldn’t use the platform to share antisemitic or harmful language.
Elon Musk, who identifies as a “free-speech absolutist,” has emphasized that the platform generally intervenes only to comply with local laws. He has previously stated that he would reinstate accounts banned for violating company policy, except in cases where the accounts broke the law.
Musk had previously reinstated former President Donald Trump’s account on X in November after polling the platform’s users. However, Trump has not posted from his account since the reinstatement.
Kanye West’s reinstatement on X comes in the wake of the platform’s rebranding, changing its name and logo to X. The company recently displayed a lighted X sign on the roof of its San Francisco headquarters, though it has received a complaint for doing so without a permit. The company representative clarified that the sign was temporary and related to an event.
It’s worth noting that Kanye West has faced criticism for making antisemitic comments in the past, which led to him losing partnerships with major brands like Adidas and Gap. Before Elon Musk acquired X, the company had previously locked Kanye West’s account over an antisemitic tweet that violated its policies. Although the account was later revived before Musk’s ownership, the platform has since taken a stricter stance on harmful content.
As of now, Kanye West’s account remains dormant since its reinstatement on X. Whether he will return to the platform or how his account will be utilized going forward is yet to be seen.
