Kanye West, better known as Ye, allegedly spouted provocative and far-right statements during a 2019 interview with David Letterman that was subsequently pulled before to its streaming on Netflix.
In the interview, which aired in late May 2019 on the second season of David Letterman’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” Ye defended followers of Donald Trump, addressed his mental health difficulties, and discussed his “war” with musician Drake.
Despite being filmed in January 2019 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, several audience members recently told TheWrap that the Netflix version of the interview omitted key moments, such as Ye blaming Rihanna for being a survivor of domestic violence and stating that Trump supporters were treated like Nazis.
Ye reportedly stated that he dreaded being “MeToo-ed” like an unnamed music industry colleague. Noah Reich, an audience member during the filming, told TheWrap that Ye spoke about a powerful Hollywood organization that was responsible for the #MeToo movement. Reich felt he was speaking about Jews.
Reich stated that he and other audience members shouted at West and questioned his statements at several moments. Reich stated that he answered aloud with “because they are Nazis” in response to Ye’s remark that Trump supporters are treated like Nazis, before garnering cheers.
Reich stated that Ye and Letterman continued the interview without recognizing audience comments.
Reich told TheWrap that it was stunning to see Kanye West espouse destructive alt-right beliefs, conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory, and misogynistic beliefs about women for the majority of the interview, only to have those elements erased in favor of celebrity fluff content.
A member of the audience identified as Larry F told The Wrap that he “doesn’t know what legalities they’re dealing with” and that he did not think the Netflix episode to be “an honest depiction of what happened that night.”
Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, Inc., informed TheWrap that “the producers went to tremendous efforts to appropriately represent” West’s ideas. The production company, which collaborated with Zero Point Zero Production Inc. to make the show, stated that “unfounded assaults on specific individuals are omitted for privacy, accuracy, and legal reasons.”
The Wrap said that Netflix made a similar argument and claimed that portions of the conversation were shortened for duration.
Elad Nehorai, a writer and political pundit, revealed light on the issue at a Substack on October 28 by referencing an unnamed audience member. Nehorai noted, “The most detrimental aspect of this, and the focal point, is that David Letterman did nothing and that most of it was not broadcast.”
In the past month, Ye has labeled Black Lives Matter “a hoax,” tweeted that he was “doing death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” and stated on The Brilliant Idiots podcast that his ex-wife Kim Kardashian “is out there fucking a white lad [Pete Davidson] with a 10-inch penis.”
Insider was unable to confirm whether or not TheWrap’s sources were present. Netflix, Worldwide Pants, and Zero Point Zero Production representatives did not react promptly to Insider’s request for comment. Reich could not be reached immediately for comment.