Cancel culture is gunning for Kanye West, but after getting kicked off Instagram and locked out of Twitter, the rapper and businessman made a surprise announcement Monday in an effort to create “an uncancelable ecosystem,” triggering leftist meltdowns with “an agreement in principle” to buy Parler.
While conservatives were getting shunned on social media platforms like Facebook with Big Tech suppressing points of view through algorithms, progressives were fond of encouraging the right to create their own spaces if they didn’t like it. Shocking no one, their sentiment was not sincere as expressed by the backlash over West’s decision to acquire the alternative media company Parler.
“In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” West said in a statement Monday.
Parler, best known by some for getting removed from the Apple and Google Play app stores after associations were drawn between its users and those participating in the breach of the Capitol on January 6, posted their own statement that read, “Parlement Technologies is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement in principle for Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to acquire the Parler platform. The acquisition ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome.”
Parlement Technologies is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement in principle for Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to acquire the Parler platform. The acquisition ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome. pic.twitter.com/KXdhV71prl
— Parler (@parler_media) October 17, 2022
Before being locked out of his social media accounts for remarks considered antisemitic, West had made waves for appearing at a Paris fashion show wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt with conservative commentator Candace Owens.
Owens’s husband, George Farmer, is the chief executive of Parler’s parent company Parlement Technologies and he said of the purchase, “This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech. Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again. Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative. Parlement will be honored to help him achieve his goals.”
Says Parler CEO George Farmer, “This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech. Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again.” #parler #uncancelable
— Parler (@parler_app) October 17, 2022
The news had barely broken before meltdowns ensued across the internet with many decrying the similarities between West’s announced purchase and billionaires Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump pursuing their own ends with Twitter and Truth Social.
Elon Musk is buying Twitter.
Kanye West is buying Parler.
Donald Trump owns Truth Social.They want to own these companies to control the narrative.
— Foggy (@ShawnLaighean) October 17, 2022
Trump has Truth Social
Kanye is buying Parler
Elon Musk is (maybe??) buying TwitterI guess that leaves Gab for Putin.
This is why we can't have nice things, people.
— [email protected] (@LauraWalkerKC) October 17, 2022
Just in case you weren't fully convinced that he's insane. https://t.co/HC6g6puvYZ
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) October 17, 2022
The clear implication was that not only should West be denied the opportunity to speak his mind, but so should anyone who goes against the current progressive narrative.
I woke up and read that Kanye is buying Parler. How do we get rid of this dude?
— Jenna (@Jennabenna24) October 17, 2022
However, not everyone was upset that West would be making the move. Instead, they voiced their displeasure with the rapper going his own way rather than acquiring a stake in a larger platform like Twitter to support free speech absolutist Musk.
https://twitter.com/lavern_spicer/status/1581953139250339841
Ye aka Kanye buying Parler shows how convincing @RealCandaceO can be. A better investment would've been as equity partner in either Truth Social or Twitter with @elonmusk
— Eddie (@ICU1010) October 17, 2022
As this story is developing it remains to be seen what the currently undisclosed purchase price of the social media platform was.
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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