Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, returned to Instagram on Thursday after the platform restricted his account for violating its rules and guidelines with anti-Semitic posts.
In his first post back, Ye made a joke about brands distancing themselves from him by reposting a fake article titled “Ye has reportedly cut ties with Kanye West.”
Ye directed his next post at Ari Emmanuel, the CEO of entertainment and media agency Endeavor.
“I lost 2 billion dollars in one day and I’m still alive,” Ye wrote. “This is love speech. I still love you. God still loves you. The money is not who I am. The people is who I am.”
Ye has made several comments in recent interviews promoting antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. He also threatened to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” after posting a text exchange with Sean “Diddy” Combs on Instagram appeared to show Ye claiming Combs was controlled by Jewish people.
Emmanuel wrote an op-ed condemning Ye’s antisemitic remarks and urged brands to cut ties with the rapper saying that “those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an audience.”
“There should be no tolerance anywhere for West’s anti-Semitism. This is a moment in history where the stakes are high and being open about our values, and living them, is essential. Silence and inaction are not an option,” Emmanuel wrote.
Several brands have cut ties with the rapper since his antisemitic comments. They include Gap, Balenciaga, Vogue, talent agency CAA and MRC, a production company that was doing a documentary on West. On Wednesday, he was kicked out of Skechers’ Los Angeles office.
However, Ye’s biggest loss came when sportswear giant Adidas announced that they will end their years long partnership with him. According to Forbes, Ye’s stake in the partnership with Adidas was valued at $1.5 billion.
