Kanye West latest news: Apple Music drops rapper’s playlist as Skechers escorts him from HQ

Kanye West's Essentials Playlist appears to have been removed from Apple Music.

The move comes as the rapper, who goes by the name Ye now, continued to face backlash after making a series of antisemitic remarks during interviews and on social media.

While there has not been an official statement by Apple yet, its rival Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek denounced the rapper's comments in an interview with Reuters.

“It’s really just his music, and his music doesn’t violate our policy,” he was quoted as saying.

“It’s up to his label, if they want to take action or not.”

Meanwhile, his school Donda Academy also appears to have been closed with immediate effect.

Donda Academy principal Jason Angell emailed parents on Wednesday saying “THERE IS NO SCHOOL TOMORROW”, adding “at the discretion of our Founder, Donda Academy will close for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective immediately”, reported The Times.

The rapper, who has been involved in several controversies over the years, has been dropped by both Adidas and Balenciaga over the “hateful and dangerous” comments.

A number of fellow celebrities have also condemned his behaviour.

Key Points

• Apple Music takes down Essentials Playlist

• Donda Academy closed with immediate effect

• Kanye West escorted from Skechers HQ after ‘unannounced’ visit

• Spotify condemns Kanye's statement but won't remove music

• Kanye West moved to archive at Madame Tussauds London

Instagram lets Kanye West back into account

13:50 , Johanna Chisholm

Kanye West took to Instagram late Wednesday night, a move that he’d been unable to do for weeks since the social media platform locked him out of his account earlier this month for posting antisemitic remarks that broke with the company’s terms of service.

In the Instagram story and the accompanying post, West seemed to address the recent fallout with Adidas and Gap, two of the larger commercial partners who have terminated their business relationship with the rapper in recent weeks.

In one of the posts, West shared a purported screenshot of a text conversation with “Quinn Emmanuel,” referring likely to the rapper’s attorneys from Quinn Emanuel and Stradley Ronon who have previously worked for West on his partnership with Gap.

Attorneys from Quinn Emanuel, including chairman John Quinn, have represented Ye in past litigation, according to Bloomberg.

“As to adidas, you can start to make new designs for footwear, apparel and accessories immediately,” the text read. “As to Gap, the non-compete expires December, 15 2022.”

The text exchange also mentioned Yeezy empire, the supposed attorney in contact with Ye in the text exchange seeming to confirm that he maintains ownership over the brand.

“You own the Yeezy name and all trademarks associated with Yeezy,” the text concluded.

Kanye West, Batman, and Stranger Things characters are top Halloween costumes

13:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

The most-wanted Halloween costumes for Britons in 2022 include Kanye West, Batman and Stranger Things characters, according to a poll.

The research was commissioned by wine brand 19 Crimes.

Alice Hughes reports:

Batman, Stranger Things and Kanye West among favourite Halloween costume ideas

Donda closure arrives after prominent educational consultant handed in resignation

13:17 , Johanna Chisholm

News of the temporary closure of Donda Academy, which reportedly includes in its curriculum the teaching of parkour and requires parents and guardians to sign a non-disclosure agreement when they enrol children to the unaccredited institution, arrives just days after an educational consultant for Donda handed in their two-week notice.

Tamar Andrews, who held a prominent position at the school and has been employed there since July, reportedly resigned from her role and had her last day with the institution on 11 October, The Hollywood Reporter said.

In addition to her work with Donda Academy, Dr Andrews was also the director of early childhood education at both Temple Isaiah and American Jewish University, per websites for both institutions.

“Dr. Andrews immediately resigned from Donda Academy following Ye West’s tweet,” Allison Samek, president of Temple Isaiah of Los Angeles, told THR in a statement, noting that the educational consultant said she “she could no longer support the organization.”

Read the full report with The Independent here.

Kanye West’s Donda Academy closes as fallout from antisemitic remarks grows

What Kanye West did: Explained

13:00 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Kanye West is experiencing a backlash after making a series of antisemitic remarks during interviews and on social media.

The rapper, who has been involved in various controversies over the years, has been dropped by both Adidas and Balenciaga over the “hateful and dangerous” comments.

A number of fellow celebrities have also condemned his behaviour.

Isobel Lewis explains the latest controversy, his remarks, and the criticism around it:

What Kanye West did: Antisemitic remarks, criticism and repercussions

Madam Tussauds London moves Kanye West wax figure

12:45 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Madame Tussauds has removed its wax figure of Kanye West from public view.

The model of the US rapper, who has legally changed his name to Ye, has been moved to an archive by the museum.

Charlotte McLaughlin reports:

Kanye West moved to archive at Madame Tussauds London

Kanye West escorted from Skechers HQ after ‘unannounced’ visit

12:30 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Skechers has revealed that Kanye West arrived at its company headquarters “unannounced” only one day after Adidas severed its partnership with the rapper.

“Ye arrived unannounced and without invitation at one of Skechers’ corporate offices in Los Angeles,” Skechers said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Considering Ye was engaged in unauthorized filming, two Skechers executives escorted him and his party from the building after a brief conversation.

Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West.”

Amber Raiken has the details:

Skechers says Kanye West escorted from its HQ after unannounced visit

Donda Academy closed with immediate effect

12:15 , Johanna Chisholm

Kanye West’s school Donda Academy has been closed with immediate effect, reports said.

Donda Academy principal Jason Angell emailed parents on Wednesday saying “THERE IS NO SCHOOL TOMORROW,” adding “at the discretion of our Founder, Donda Academy will close for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective immediately,” reported The Times.

Mr Angell was quoted as saying in the email that the school plans to “begin afresh in September of 2023.”

Essentials Playlist removed from Apple Music

12:05 , Sravasti Dasgupta

Kanye West’s Essentials Playlist appears to have been removed from Apple Music.

The move comes as the rapper continued to face backlash after making a series of antisemitic remarks during interviews and on social media.

There has been no official statement by Apple Music on the development yet.