Certain corners of the internet and media would have us believe that famous people are being cancelled on a daily basis. That the relentless march towards “woke” has left so many well-known people shunned that the whole celebrity ecosystem is in danger of collapsing.
This is not true. As Irish comedian and talk show host Graham Norton so succinctly pointed out at the recent Cheltenham Literature Festival: “You read a lot of articles in papers by people complaining about ‘cancel culture'. You think, in what world are you cancelled? I’m reading your name in a newspaper, or you’re doing an interview about how terrible it is to be cancelled.”
Cancellation has proven to be largely a myth, a buzzword, which, as with garnering likes and online support when hashtagged in social media soundbites, is rarely reflected in real life.
Some of this explains why, despite years of making damaging, abusive and threatening public statements and false allegations, Kanye West manages to shake off the fallout of his actions as though he is coated in Teflon.
Over the past few weeks, West, who now goes by the name Ye, has posted anti-Semitic messages on social media; accused his estranged mother-in-law Kris Jenner of having an affair with Canadian rapper Drake; worn a White Lives Matter T-shirt at his Paris Fashion Week show; sat down for an interview with Fox News’s right-wing host Tucker Carlson that later made headlines thanks to outtakes of West floating a series of conspiracy theories; and said George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police officers in May 2020 galvanised the Black Lives Matter movement, actually "died from fentanyl”.
Not for the first time, West's outbursts have caused several social media storms and plenty of backlashes. Previous declarations, such as his assertion in 2018 that slavery was a "choice", resulted in a global outcry. This time around, organisations such as Twitter and Instagram have blocked his accounts, while the likes of his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian, singer John Legend and actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Sarah Silverman have spoken out against him.
But then why does the rapper, 45, keep selling albums, fashion lines and tours?
The answer is complicated, drawing together West’s mental health, global fame, wealth and influence and rabidly loyal fans — not to mention America’s complex relationship with race — to create a giant ball of Ye-shaped yarn, where pulling one string, rather than unravelling him, just seems to knot it tighter.
Mental health issues plus a global platform
During The Saint Pablo Tour in late 2016, West started to make statements that would alienate his fanbase, such as declaring he would have voted for Donald Trump and publicly criticising Beyonce and Jay-Z.
The remainder of the tour was scrapped and West was hospitalised for “exhaustion and dehydration”, which actually meant he'd been put on an emergency psychiatric hold that resulted in the rapper receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis.
In December 2018, West revealed he had stopped taking his medication, tweeting: “I’m loving the new music I’ve been working on. 6 months off meds I can feel me again.” Later tweeting: “I cannot be on meds and make watch the throne level or dark fantasy level music.”
“I ramp up, and I go high,” the Gold Digger singer told David Letterman on his show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction in May 2019. “If you don’t take medication every day to keep you at a certain state, you have the potential to ramp up, and it can even take you to a point where you can even end up in the hospital. And you start acting ‘erratic’, as TMZ would put it.”
TMZ was the online news outlet in whose newsroom in 2018 West declared slavery to be a “choice”.
“As many of you know, Kanye has bipolar disorder,” Kim Kardashian wrote on Instagram in 2020. “Anyone who has this or has a loved one in their life who does, knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand.”
'The ability to not be influenced'
A large part of the rapper’s ongoing public narrative has focused on how external forces and people are trying unsuccessfully to control and manipulate him, a position he took during his support of Donald Trump in 2018, and his own abortive 2020 presidential campaign.
During his Letterman interview, West said he felt “bullied” by liberals and the media, insisting he wasn’t a Republican, but rather a contrarian.
“My power is the ability to not be influenced," he told the talk show host.
Three years later, West’s “me against the world” stance shows no signs of abating as his recent controversial sit-down talk with Fox News’s Tucker Carlson attests.
“They keep on using the: ‘Oh he's crazy, he's crazy,' thing. And it hurts my feelings when people say that,” he told the host on Tucker Carlson Tonight. “Come smack me or come shoot me. I’m the one that got bullied by the entire black celebrity community.”
The curse of the ‘genius’ tag
The word “genius” has been attached to West since the release of his debut album, The College Dropout, in 2004. The album, which contained the tracks Through the Wire and Jesus Walks, went quadruple platinum in the US, and continues to make appearances on lists of the “greatest albums of all time”.
Kardashian herself has described her ex-husband as a “brilliant but complicated person”.
West’s creative talent has taken on an unchecked life of its own over the years as his every album, up until 2018's Ye, went multi-platinum and his fashion collaborations with Gap, Nike, Louis Vuitton, APC and Balmain all sold out. His Yeezy collaboration with adidas has made billions of dollars.
“For me, you know, I’m a creative genius and there's no other way to ... word it,” West once told late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel.
The “genius” line has often veered into Messiah complex territory. “I’m like a vessel, and God has chosen me to be the voice and the connector,” he told The Fader in 2008. A sentiment that evolved into: “I am a god. Now what?” when West explained the title of his track I Am A God from his 2013 album Yeezus to W magazine.
These self-beliefs can be a result of his disorder, says consultant psychiatrist Dr Saman Ahmed, who works at The Lighthouse Arabia.
“During manic or hypomanic episodes, patients would say ‘they never felt better'," says Dr Ahmed. "There is so much going on that there is no time to seek treatment nor do they see the need to. There is overwhelming joy, excitement or happiness, huge energy, a reduced need for sleep, and reduced inhibitions. In the hypomanic states, creative people have produced their best pieces of work.
“They report feeling all-powerful, invincible or destined for greatness.”
The final straw?
While only certain parts of the Carlson interview were aired, leaked footage made its way online, showing West frequently referencing Jewish people. He also claimed fake children had been planted in his house to manipulate his own children, North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3.
He then wrote anti-Semitic messages on his Twitter account, which was locked soon after, with his Instagram account following suit after he posted a screenshot of a text conversation with Sean “Diddy” Combs, in which he insinuated Combs was being controlled by Jewish people.
In recent weeks US bank JP Morgan Chase severed ties with the rapper and his Yeezy Inc brand, demanding that he "promptly transfer" his business to another financial institution by November 21. In September, a leaked internal memo from Gap brand president and chief executive Mark Breitbard said the company would be winding down their partnership with West as they were no longer aligned on how to work together.
Adidas says it is reviewing its creative relationship with West “after repeated efforts to privately resolve the situation”.
However, for West, as one door closes, another opens and the rapper’s relentless assertion that attempts are being made to limit his freedom of expression are likely to be behind the news that he will now acquire Parler, the right-leaning social media app similar to Twitter that is popular among conservatives.
“In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” West said in a statement about the purchase.
This will, of course, appeal to Republicans and those decrying "cancel culture", at least.
Will a boycott come next?
While great inroads have been made to remove the stigma around mental health, thanks to more people talking publicly about their struggles, society is still a long way from fully understanding and accepting the nuances around the infinite issue.
In bipolar disorder, in particular, the symptoms are vast and wide-ranging. So when West's cancellation is called for, what exactly is being demanded — a societal shunning of the man or his mental health issues?
"With severe bipolar disorder, one can experience hallucinations and start believing in things that others find irrational," says Dr Waleed Ahmed, consultant psychiatrist at Priory Wellbeing Centre, Abu Dhabi. "During the manic phase, people may engage in risky behaviours and be reckless, such as going on buying sprees. Episodes of mania and depression often last for weeks or months.
"It is a life-long illness but the symptoms can be effectively managed by following a treatment plan that usually includes medications and psychotherapy.”
Until West enters treatment and a change in behaviour is seen, some will continue to call for him to be boycotted, while others will side with Kardashian’s assertion that “his words sometimes do not align with his intentions”.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
WHAT%20START-UPS%20IS%20VISA%20SEEKING%3F
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEnablers%20of%20digital%20services%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Blockchain%20and%20cryptocurrency%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Crowdfunding%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banking-as-a-service%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banking%20identification%20number%20sponsors%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Issuers%2Fprocessors%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Programme%20managers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDigital%20issuance%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Blockchain%20and%20cryptocurrency%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Alternative%20lending%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Personal%20financial%20management%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Money%20transfer%20and%20remittance%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digital%20banking%20(neo%20banks)%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digital%20wallets%2C%20peer-to-peer%20and%20transfers%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Employee%20benefits%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Payables%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Corporate%20cards%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EValue-add%20for%20merchants%2Fconsumers%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Data%20and%20analytics%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20ID%2C%20authentication%20and%20security%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Insurance%20technology%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Loyalty%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Merchant%20services%20and%20tools%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Process%20and%20payment%20infrastructure%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Retail%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESME%20recovery%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Money%20movement%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Acceptance%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Risk%20management%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Brand%20management%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENew%20categories%20for%202023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Sustainable%20FinTechs%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Risk%3Cbr%3E%E2%80%A2%20Urban%20mobility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A Prayer Before Dawn
Director: Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
Starring: Joe Cole, Somluck Kamsing, Panya Yimmumphai
Three stars
Sukuk
An Islamic bond structured in a way to generate returns without violating Sharia strictures on prohibition of interest.
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ovasave%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Majd%20Abu%20Zant%20and%20Torkia%20Mahloul%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Healthtech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Three%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24400%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Last-16 Europa League fixtures
Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)
FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm
Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm
Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm
Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm
Thursday
Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm
Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm
FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm
Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm
The%20new%20Turing%20Test
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IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
Hot%20Seat
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European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm kick-off UAE)
Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke (5.30pm)
Wolfsburg v Cologne (5.30pm)
Mainz v Arminia Bielefeld (5.30pm)
Augsburg v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Bayern Munich (8.30pm)
Borussia Monchengladbach v Freiburg (10.30pm)
Sunday
VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v Hertha Berlin (8pm)
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
