Kanye West praised Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez – but she wasn’t having it
Kanye West (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Surface Magazine)
Newly-minted Trump supporter Kanye West attempted to praise Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez – but she isn’t having it.
West has sparked concern among fans since he abruptly began tweeting praise of far-right YouTubers and President Donald Trump last month.
A succession of stars have cut ties with the rapper in the wake of his controversial views, while John Legend has publicly challenged several of his comments.
West appeared to be making some sort of statement on April 29 when he tweeted praise of Parkland shooting survivor and gun control campaigner Emma Gonzalez, who is a prominent critic of the Republican Party and Donald Trump’s links to the National Rifle Association.
Sharing a picture of Gonzalez he wrote: “my hero Emma Gonzalez”
He followed up with a selfie, adding: “inspired by Emma”.
But Gonzalez did not reciprocate the gesture.
Copying the exact form of West’s tweet, she wrote: “my hero James Shaw Jr.”
Shaw Jr. has been in the news after helping to avert a mass shooting at a Waffle House in Nashville by tackling a gunman as he was attempting to reload.
Four people died in the April 22 attack, but Shaw Jr.’s actions have been credited with helping prevent a much worse tragedy.
The subtle shade did not go unnoticed on the site, though West did not respond further.
A whole host of stars have unfollowed West in the aftermath of the rapper’s alt-right Twitter storm.
(PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty)
Celebrities including Troye Sivan and Jaden Smith have reportedly unfollowed West on the micro-blogging site since the pro-Trump tweets.
Others to have reportedly unfollowed West this week include Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, Drake, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Chrissy Teigen, Kendrick Lamar, BTS, Lana Del Rey and John Legend.
West’s sisters-in-law Kylie Jenner and Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian are also reported to have unfollowed West since Wednesday.
(Drew Angerer/Getty)
Kim Kardashian defended her husband in a tweet on Wednesday, saying West was “years ahead of his time.”
She wrote: “Kanye will never run in the race of popular opinion and we know that and that’s why I love him and respect him and in a few years when someone else says the same exact thing but they aren’t labelled the way he is and you will all praise them!
“Kanye is years ahead of his time.”
