Kanye Tells Tucker Carlson He Wore The ‘WLM’ Shirt Because Its ‘Funny’

Kanye sat down with FOX's Tucker Carlson Thursday night (Oct. 6) and explained why he decided to include "White Lives Matter" in his newest YZY collection.

The rapper designed "White Lives Matter" shirts for his models walking in his YZY SZN 9 show that debuted in Paris on Monday (Oct. 3). Ye, who also wore the shirt, quickly received backlash on social media from the controversial phrase. He explained to Carlson that he wore the shirt because "it’s the obvious thing."

"The answer to why I wrote ‘White Lives Matter’ on a shirt is because they do," West said during the interview that aired Thursday.

Ye recalled a text conversation he had with his dad about the "White Lives Matter" shirt.

"I said, 'I thought the shirt was a funny shirt; I thought the idea of me wearing it was funny.' And I said, 'Dad, why did you think it was funny?' He said, 'Just a Black man stating the obvious.'" West told Carlson.

Carlson then asked Kanye why he didn't think the phrase was as controversial as people might think. Ye responded that he didn't want to think the way the media wants him too.

"Because the same people that have stripped us of our identity and labeled us as a color, have told us what it means to be Black," West said.

The phrase "White Lives Matter" is categorized as a "hate slogan" used by White supremacist groups that originated in 2105 as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement, per The Anti-Defamation League.

In the interview, West also addressed his 2016 visit to President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. Two years after the visit he went to visit him as President where he infamously wore the "Make America Great Again" hat.

Ye said that he "started to really feel this need to express myself on another level when Trump was running for office and I liked him."

He said he was told by multiple people "that if I said I liked Trump that my career would be over, my life would be over."

"They said stuff like people get killed for wearing a hat like that, they threatened my life," West said. "They basically said I would be killed for wearing the hat."

Take a look at the interview below:

Kanye has responded to the backlash over his "White Lives Matter" shirt he wore to his YZY SZN 9 collection that debuted in Paris Monday (Oct. 3).

The Yeezy founder wore a "White Lives Matter" t-shirt that made rounds on social media.
The rapper additionally posed for a photo next to Candace Owens in matching "White Lives Matter" shirts, which featured an image of Pope John Paul II on the front. The conservative commentator reposted the photo to her Twitter account.

Various models, including Lauryn Hill’s 23-year-old daughter Selah Marley, also wore the shirt on the runway which also made the emcee trend alongside West and Owens.

"Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam," Ye wrote on his Instagram Story per HipHopDX referencing the multi-million dollar financial scandals of the organization. "Now its over[.] You’re welcome."

The backlash was not well received by celebrities such as Jaden Smith, rapper Boosie and Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee.

“I Had To Dip Lol,” tweeted Smith after leaving the Yeezy Season 9 show in protest. “True Leaders Lead. I Don’t Care Who’s It Is If I Don’t Feel The Message I’m Out. Black Lives Matter. We Demand A More Progressive Future.”

"@kanyewest AFTER ALL WE BEEN THROUGH AS A RACE YOU PUT THIS DISRESPECTFUL S--- ON!!" Boosie wrote on Twitter. "U GIVES NO F---- ABOUT HOW BLACKS HAVE DIED N SUFFERED TO THE HANDS OF THE WHITE MAN N U SAY BUSH DON’T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE…REALLY N----."

Hollywood Unlocked founder-CEO Jason Lee, who was appointed West’s head of media and partnerships in March, announced he no longer works with the rapper because of this recent incident.

"Very humble and thankful to Ye for the opportunity to work with him but that part of our relationship has come to an end," he wrote next to the aforementioned photo of Kanye and Candace Owens on his Instagram Stories per HipHopDX. "And I don’t support this."

The Black Lives Matter organization also commented on Kanye's controversial stunt.

"While some may see Kanye and Candace's stunt as a distraction, we recognize that it harms thousands of families fighting for justice for their loved ones killed by state-sanctioned violence," the organization told TMZ.

They described Ye's and Owen's stunt as "toxic confusion" and that it is "used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people."

"Kanye knows very well that 'white lives' have never been targeted for oppression," the organization continued. "Black folks, in contrast, are at the bottom of virtually every economic, social, and political measure because of centuries of individual and institutional racism."

BLM responded to Ye's "scam" claim in disagreement and says that the movement will help Black people because "when Black people get free, everybody gets free."

Take a look at the backlash Ye has gotten for his "White Lives Matter" shirt: