Kanye West is backing the 'Blexit' movement, and some of the loudest supporters are white Twitter users
Kanye West is officially throwing his support behind Candace Owens’s “Blexit” movement, and plenty of people aren’t happy. “Blexit,” shorthand for “black exit,” encourages blacks who support the Democratic Party to cross over to the Republican Party. Hence, the Brexit-inspired title.
As Page Six explains, the rapper’s “Blexit” merchandise made its debut at the Turning Point USA’s Young Black Leadership Summit in Washington on Saturday. Owens serves as Turning Point USA’s communications director; West has previously praised the conservative thought leader on Twitter.
I love the way Candace Owens thinks
— ye (@kanyewest) April 21, 2018
There is no group in America that has been more lied to, more abused, or more taken advantage of by the Democrats than black people.
At long last, we can return the favor by ENDING their stranglehold on our votes.
Support the #BLEXIT today, Patriots! https://t.co/1kEDqZWKUF
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) October 28, 2018
“Blexit is a renaissance, and I am blessed to say that this logo, these colors, were created by my dear friend and fellow superhero Kanye West,” Owens said of the new shirts at the event, according to Page Six. In addition to bearing the movement name, some of the shirts also say “We Free.”
.@KanyeWest designed these “Blexit” t-shirts for @RealCandaceO’s new “Blexit” movement. They were handed out at #YBLS2018 pic.twitter.com/fh4IT6lVut
— Nikki Schwab (@NikkiSchwab) October 27, 2018
Page Six also reports that Owens told the crowd of conference-goers that West “has taken one of the boldest steps in America to open a conversation we have needed to have.”
The “Yikes” rapper recently met with President Trump at the Oval Office and delivered a speech that touched on a variety of issues. West said that wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat made him “feel like Superman,” and he criticized Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign slogan, “I’m with her,” as well. West also talked about mental health, hydrogen-powered planes, and a slew of other topics.
But as The Hill points out, West doesn’t seem to have abandoned the Democratic Party entirely. West reportedly donated $73,000 to Amara Enyia’s campaign for mayor of Chicago, and Enyia is a Democratic candidate.
Not everyone agrees with West’s embrace of the president and the “Blexit” movement, though.
Yall… while we CONTINUOUSLY fight against white supremacy and hate that (more often than not) comes from right-winged bullshit, we also cannot allow @RealCandaceO and her bullshit with #BLEXIT fan those flames.
— An Articulate Asshole (@Turnt_Hippie) October 28, 2018
If y’all don’t get this #BLEXIT shit off my muhfuckin TL 🙄🙄 that shit is embarrassing to look at. pic.twitter.com/Oj4IuOK9yx
— Emotional Taurus ?🏾🏳??🌈?🏾 (@yoraff_) October 28, 2018
the best part about this is i’m sure no one on his team explained to him that brexit was birthed by xenophobic racists. wild https://t.co/2HNuomerOk
— Clayd Yila (@ClaydYila) October 28, 2018
So basically this was a promo for their new Brexit brand by Kanye. This was a bash Democrat speech with no solutions for black people. This was more white supremacy in black face. You can't ignore systemic racism and its impact on black life. Repubs have been implicit.
— This Negro Reads (@RevGeraldPalmer) October 27, 2018
Irony – Little Fake Miss Thing chooses a site – Breitbart – which pushes white supremacy for her laughable manifesto about black people leaving the Democratic party. #BLEXIT https://t.co/Z2I3cpXrsE
— Holy Bullies (@holybullies) October 28, 2018
Still, the movement does seem to have some supporters, both at the event on Saturday and on Twitter.
How much more of this movement can the media ignore?
PACKED HOUSE OF BLACK LEADERS WHO LOVE @realDonaldTrump and LOVE AMERICA
The movement is growing everyday
@RealCandaceO launched BLEXIT today – THE BLACK EXIT FROM THE DEMOCRAT PARTYhttps://t.co/BVk5Bkw0zg#Blexit pic.twitter.com/thd0GIlJY8
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 27, 2018
Wooooow! This is #powerful. @RealCandaceO you are on fire! God bless this movement. #BLEXIT
What an amazing thing to see 😍 https://t.co/ehtWYYZy2N— Darren D. West (@dwest033) October 27, 2018
I know right?! I’m getting all of the gear!! #Blexit https://t.co/z8aH68q0dF
— Pastor Robert L. Carpenter II?🇺🇸 (@RobCarpenter2) October 27, 2018
Yes we are free. It’s time for #BLEXIT
— Projani (@percyholmes87) October 28, 2018
Can’t wait to see what this becomes!!! Hopefully we’ll be there to follow through with this moment? #VeryHistorical #blexit @RealCandaceO pic.twitter.com/tBpSHxC1IX
— Kezia Soteria Bethel (@KeziaBethel) October 28, 2018
Others criticized the fact that “Blexit” appears to have many white supporters.
Seeing so many white people tweeting #BLEXIT and very few black people tweeting it tells you everything you need to know.
— The Chocolate Nuisance (@Chocomerican) October 27, 2018
#BLEXIT @RealCandaceO your speech was amazing. Keep changing the world queen 👑 pic.twitter.com/0SYK1YkMUm
— Elise Rhodes (@elroads) October 27, 2018
RIP Dem. Party #BLEXIT
— Ben Larrabee (@Ben_Larrabee) October 27, 2018
#BLExit all the respect for acting on what you believe in! Don’t let the haters silence you.
— CH (@cmhink) October 27, 2018
And some people made fun of the confusing “Blexit” logo on the new merchandise.
Join #BLEXIT and we’ll contort your body like a medieval torture device. pic.twitter.com/WtAZxAQcr9
— jamieson voorhees 🧟?♂? (@jamieray) October 28, 2018
Why does the #BLEXIT logo look like House Bolton's flayed man coat of arms? pic.twitter.com/DaOgcBcgVV
— Not the Midwest (@notthemidwest) October 28, 2018
I just saw Candace Owens’ Blexit website. It is filled with terrible rhetoric that is both anti-black and upholds white supremacy. Also, their logo is super wack which pretty much in line with Kanye’s design aesthetic. https://t.co/eqD9KuhNLj
— Kahlief "Creepshow 2 is the 🐐” Adams (@Kahjahkins) October 28, 2018
Whatever people’s opinions about “Blexit” are, though, it may be around for a while. Owens said at Saturday’s event that “the Blexit movement will spend 2019 holding rallies in every major city in America that the Democrats have destroyed,” according to Page Six.
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