"It felt illegal to even look at" – Kanye West reportedly reveals planning swastika t-shirt 8 years ago as he recalls trip to Japan

After deactivating his X account, Kanye West, also known as 'Ye', returned to the social media platform, reigniting controversies surrounding his "Swastika-themed" Yeezy t-shirt.

His return to X follows widespread condemnation from netizens, social media influencers, and business partners, following an "anti-semitic rant". In a series of now-deleted tweets, the rapper reportedly went on another anti-semitic rant, closely resembling tweets from earlier in the month where he seemingly called himself a "N*zi".

Screenshot of Kanye West's now-deleted tweet on X (Image via X/@kanyewest)

These tweets seemingly targeted the online fallout stemming from his promotion of the "Swastika-themed" t-shirt, which caused massive outrage online, leading to Shopify shutting down his Yeezy website.

In one of his tweets, he suggested making over $40 million off his X rant from earlier in the month, claiming that he's been planning on creating and distributing a Swastika t-shirt for over eight years.

"The idea of being Jew-proof is I said all these politically incorrect things, and nobody was able to stop me, extort me, or threaten me into changing anything. And I made 40 million the next day between my different businesses. There’s a lot of Jewish people I know and love and still work with. The point I made and showed is that I am not under Jewish control anymore," Ye stated in a now-deleted tweet.

Ye also shared that many of his staff members had left him following the controversy, including the couture designer behind Bianca Censori's now-viral outfit worn at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

According to Daily Mail, West seemingly claimed that while many believe his Swastika t-shirt was designed to target the Jewish community, the symbol is viewed differently in other places around the world.

He also reportedly referenced his recent trip to Japan, citing sources of inspiration for his new t-shirt design, when he allegedly tweeted:

"I remember going to Japan and gasping when I saw what is known as the swastika on clothing. It felt illegal to even look at it [but then] I found out that swastika had many different meanings and many different names."

Kanye West and Bianca Censori attend the 67th GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Image via Getty/Jon Kopaloff)

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Kanye West seemingly responds to s*xual harassment allegations stemming from Lauren Pisciotta's lawsuit

Kanye West is reportedly facing allegations from former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, who filed a s*xual harassment lawsuit against the rapper. According to court documents, as confirmed by The Mirror, Pisciotta's accusations claim that West had sent her "s*xually suggestive messages," in 2021, while also claiming he engaged in inappropriate phone calls.

Pisciotta intends to take legal action against Kanye West, with her lawsuit reportedly addressing the rapper's alleged misconduct. According to reports, the rapper seemingly called out his former assistant in a series of now-deleted tweets on X, stating:

"YOU KNOW WHY I NEVER F**KED LAUREN PISCIOTA CAUSE SHE SMELLT AKWARD."

He also appeared to address the lawsuit and s*xual harassment allegations, stemming from her lawsuit, in a follow-up tweet, stating:

"FOR ANYONE WHO WVER WANTS TO TRY TO EXTORT ME YOU WILL EUN OUT OF MONEY BEFORE I DO."

Lauren Pisciotta is reportedly seeking damages for breach of contract, s*xual harassment, creation of a hostile work environment, and wrongful termination.

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Amid various controversies and rumors, Kanye West is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated solo album, BULLY, which is expected to be delivered to all major streaming platforms this year.