Antonio Brown is showing his loyalty to his music mentor Kanye West in an Instagram post by co-signing West’s stance to contradict the humanitarian phrase Black Lives Matter. Brown posted All Lives Matter with his favorite hashtags: #CallGod #Boomin #Putthatshiton and added two more for solidarity with West, #Donda #Always.
The move comes at a time when the always-polarizing West wore a “WHITE LIVES MATTER” T-shirt at his YZY Szn 9 show on Monday during Paris Fashion Week. The statement ruffled feathers but threw his cultural base further into a tailspin when he appeared at the event alongside conservative commentator Candace Owens, who wore a similar shirt.
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Several YZY models who also walked the runway at the show were also wearing outfits with the phrase. Ye has stumbled into hot water with a portion of his supporters and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League. The organization categorizes white Lives Matter as a hate slogan. West furthered his advance by posting and eventually deleted the message from his Instagram.
“EVERYONE KNOWS THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER WAS A SCAM NOW ITS OVER YOU’RE WELCOME.”
The internet never forgets, and the more West plunges down the rabbit hole of race and culture politics, his allegiances are perceived as paper thin and lacking substance. From wearing a MAGA height during Donald Trump’s presidency and saying in rhymes that MAGA hats let him slide through police stops, West has presented an alternate reality to America and the world’s myriad issues.
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— Outlander Magazine (@StreetFashion01) October 3, 2022
“Kanye West and Candace Owens sent a performative dog whistle to millions,” a statement from Black Lives Matter Grassroots said. “Kanye knows very well that ‘white lives’ have never been targeted for oppression. Black folks, in contrast, are at the bottom of virtually every economic, social, and political measure because of centuries of individual and institutional racism.
“The stunt was a clear affront to Black Lives Matter, which has been measured as the largest racial justice movement in history. Black models walked the runway wearing the same slogan. ‘All Lives Matter’ and ‘White Lives Matter’ have long served as violent retorts to the Black Lives Matter movement, used by white supremacists and hate groups, including the Ku Klux Klan.
“Black Lives Matter Grassroots sees this as a teachable moment. Political education is core to what we do. 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. It can spread toxic confusion and be used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people. Battling misinformation while continuing to do the hard work that liberation requires is nothing new for us.”
Now Brown adds to it, not agreeing with West’s assertion but pushing his own, that All Lives Matter is controversial on its own. However, he is not the first athlete to make an argument for the phrase. Floyd Mayweather also doubled down on his usage of the term, explaining that it comes from a sense of compliance with the rules and order.
“I’m here to say all lives matter,” Mayweather said in 2020 to Tha Boxing Voice. “A lot of times we get stuck and we are followers. When you hear one person say, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ or ‘Blue Lives Matter’ â ‘All Lives Matter.’ What I learned from boxing and what everyone can take in real life is follow directions, follow orders. Don’t give nobody a hard time.”
As Brown follows West’s lead, he is not going as hard as West but takes an equally inflammatory stance which is par for the course for two of the most polarizing figures in sports and entertainment.
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