Rapper turned MAGA troll Kanye West is set to purchase his own social media platform, after being booted from Twitter and Instagram for making antisemitic posts. But the deal involves a lot more than just social media.
Ye, as West now goes by, is set to buy Parler, “the world's pioneering uncancelable free speech platform,” parent company Parlement Technologies announced this morning.
It’s the latest development in a seemingly growing movement of emerging far-right Black conservatives. It may also represent a seminal movement in another growing aspect of the right wing – the creation of computing-services infrastructure.
Today’s announcement by Parlement Technologies comes just a month after Parlement was formed, encompassing both Parler but also its new venture in creating “uncancelable cloud service”. The company raised $16 million for its new cloud-service business just last month.
Parler shut down after Amazon stopped providing its computing services in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Parlement Technologies CEO George Farmer said on Fox Business this morning that the sale to Ye is part of something bigger than Parler, the creation of an entire computer-services infrastructure for the emerging “patriot economy.”
The new business would enable companies to support and conduct sales, communications, and operations benefiting and boosting right-wing causes -- including hate speech -- without repercussions from their computer-services provider. Farmer said, “Woke corporations, be afraid, because we’re coming for you.”
Like Parler, Ye has also been shut down on social media. Just last week his Twitter and IG accounts were suspended after he reportedly tweeted that he would go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” among other antisemitic posts. He also shared antisemitic views during a Fox taping, as reported by Vice News.
Farmer said that Ye’s purchase was motivated by his account suspensions. Farmer’s wife is Candace Owens, another polarizing Black conservative figure, who is an acquaintance of Ye.
Earlier this month, Ye and Owens came under fire after appearing together at Paris Fashion Week wearing ‘White Lives Matter’ shirts.
It’s not clear how much Ye agreed to give Parlement Technologies in exchange for Parler, but the terms of the deal also oblige him to buy support and cloud services from Parlement. Parler reportedly has struggled to attract users or regular engagement.
The platform’s future is murky, given uncertainties elsewhere in the market. Twitter suitor Elon Musk has suggested he might let former Pres. Donald Trump back on that platform. Trump also has his own, struggling social-media platform, Truth Social.
Ye has been an active MAGA Republican since Trump took office and has announced several times his own ambitions for running for president. On the upcoming acquisition, Ye is quoted in the announcement saying, "In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves”.
TYT Washington Correspondent Candice Cole was previously a correspondent and senior White House producer for the Black News Channel and has worked at a number of local news outlets. You can find her on Twitter @CandiceColeNews.