Music

Diddy on Kanye West's ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt Design: ‘I Don’t Rock With It’

The artist formerly known as Kanye West wore the design at this week's YZY SZN 9 presentation in Paris, which also featured models wearing the shirt.

Ye and Diddy are pictured together at an event
Image via Getty/Kevin Mazur
Getty

Diddy has spoken out against the “white lives matter” t-shirt design featured in the artist formerly known as Kanye West’s YZY SZN 9 presentation.

While Diddy said he will “always support” Ye as “a freethinker,” he made clear in an Instagram-shared video overnight that he’s “not with it” when it comes to the widely criticized design featuring a hate slogan.

“I am not about to be addressing every last thing that’s going on in the world on the internet but the thing I do have to address is this ‘white lives matter’ t-shirt,” Diddy told fans, as seen below. “I’ve always been there and I will always support my brother Kanye as a freethinker. But the ‘white lives matter’ t-shirt, I don’t rock with it, you know what I’m saying? I’m not with it.”

From there, Diddy responded to how some in the press and in fashion have argued “this is a joke” with an urging for people to not wear the design in question.

“Right now all America has planned for us is poverty, incarceration, and death,” Diddy said. “So before I can get to any other lives matter—which all lives matter—that Black Lives Matter, don’t play with it. Don’t wear the shirt. Don’t buy the shirt. Don’t play with the shirt. It’s not a joke.”

As previously reported, Diddy also spoke about Ye during his recent Breakfast Club appearance. During that interview, he took a slightly more defensive position but still called out the involvement of Candace Owens, who also wore the shirt in question at this week’s Paris show.

In June, Ye made a surprise appearance at the BET Awards to pay tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Diddy. In his speech, Ye called Diddy (who was also indirectly referenced amid his recent IG updates) his “favorite artist" and credited him with having inspired “so many” of his life choices.

Related Stories

kanye west and gigi hadid back and forth
music

Kanye West on Gigi Hadid Calling Him a ‘Bully,’ Asks Public ‘Where Was You When I Couldn’t See My Kids’ (UPDATE)

In his latest remarks amid the ongoing criticism of the YZY SZN 9 design, Ye also referenced the Kardashians and the criticism he received from Gigi Hadid.

Trace William Cowen1308 days ago
Kanye's face at fashion week with beard
music

Kanye Tells Justin Bieber 'Get Your Girl Before I Get Mad' as Hailey Supports Editor Ye Is Accused of Bullying

The IG post arrived after Hailey Bieber showed kindness to Gabriella Karefa-Johnson following the latest social media bullying accusations leveled at West.

Zach Dionne1308 days ago
Diddy presenting at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, Mase performs during the Washington Wizard's Rap Night concert
music

Diddy Claims Mase Owes Him $3 Million and Calls Him ‘Fake Pastor,' Rapper Responds

Diddy has denied multiple allegations that he stole from his artists, claiming that his former collaborator Mase actually owes him $3 million.

Joe Price1308 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App