Microblogging site Twitter Inc suspended rapper Kanye West aka Ye’s account just two months after reinstating when Elon Musk took over as the company’s boss. The world’s richest man confirmed the action, saying he had violated the platform’s norms, which could incite violence.
Elon Musk, who regards himself as the free speech absolutist, welcomed the rapper's return in October on the platform known by the name Ye.
Confirming the move Musk in a tweet made late on Thursday wrote, "I tried my best. Despite that, he again violated our rule against incitement to violence. Account will be suspended.”
West's account was suspended within an hour of Musk's post, made in a reply to a Twitter user who had said "Elon Fix Kanye Please". Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Right before suspending Ye’s account, which garnered 30 million followers, Twitter had restricted one of the rapper’s tweets, although the content of that tweet wasn't known.
ELON FIX KANYE PLEASE
— Alex 🃏🏝 (@TheeAleexJ) December 2, 2022
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Earlier Thursday, Kanye West sat down for an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, in which he made antisemitic comments, referred to “the Jewish media,” and said, “I see good things about Hitler, also.”
Twitter restored the rapper’s account before the $44 billion deal was officially done, although, later clarified that he had had no role in bringing Ye back on Twitter.
The rapper on Thursday tweeted a photo of Hollywood mogul Ari Emanuel where he can be seen spraying water at the back of Twitter’s boss Musk’s head with a hose, with the caption "Let's always remember this as my final tweet #ye24", before the account was suspended.
Musk responded that Ye’s account was suspended not because he posted "an unflattering pic of me being hosed by Ari,” but for his comments that have the potential of inciting violence.
In November, Twitter reinstated some controversial accounts that had been banned or suspended, including ing satirical website Babylon Bee and comedian Kathy Griffin.