After grabbing headlines in recent weeks for several controversial moves, including wearing a White Lives Matter T-shirt to Paris Fashion Week, Kanye West, now known as Ye, has announced he's buying social media platform Parler, to protect "conservative opinions".
The right-wing social media app, which has been banned by Apple and Google several times, was used to coordinate the January 6 riots on the US Capitol last year.
West joined the platform today and said: “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves."
A tweet from the app's official account said the acquisition "ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome".
“This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech," said George Farmer, chief executive of Parlement Technologies, Parler’s parent company.
"Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again. Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative. Parlement will be honoured to help him achieve his goals."
Ye and Parlement expect to close the purchase agreement during the fourth quarter of this year.
This comes after West has made headlines in recent weeks for various controversial actions, with companies beginning to cut ties with the rapper, including US bank JP Morgan Chase which is severing ties with West and his Yeezy Inc brand, effective November 21.
In unaired parts of an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, West also floated a series of conspiracy theories touching on anti-Semitic tropes and suggested that “fake children” were planted outside his house.
They were released days after West's Twitter and Instagram accounts were locked over anti-Semitic posts.
The Anti-Defamation League condemned West's posts as “deeply troubling, dangerous, and antisemitic [sic]”.
Scroll through the gallery below to see Kanye West's style evolution
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will.i.am and Kanye West, in a knitted jumper, pose backstage during the MTV Europe Music Awards at Tor di Valle November 18, 2004 in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Anastacia and Kanye West, in a pink golfing-inspired ensemble, attend the MTV Europe Music Awards on November 18, 2004 at Tor di Valle, in Rome, Italy. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a casual white outfit, arrives at the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards at the Bella Centre on November 2, 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a laid-back navy suit, attends a Fendi party at the National Stadium on November 30, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a plaid shirt, and Alexis Phifer arrive at the Christian Dior show on October 1, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in shades of brown, and Alexis Phifer arrive for the Stella McCartney show on October 4, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a polo shirt and cardigan, and Alexis Phifer arrive at the Chloe fashion show on October 6, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in checked tailoring, leaves the Louis Vuitton fashion show on October 7, 2007 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a grey trench, arrives at the Yves Saint Laurent fashion show on February 28, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in sneakers and a printed jacket, and Alexis Phifer arrive at the Chloe fashion show on March 1, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in retro tailoring, attends Elie Saab fashion show during on January 28, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a bow tie and denim jacket, attends the Narciso Rodriguez fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City on February 17, 2009. EPA -
Kanye West, in double denim, attends the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show as part of London Fashion Week on February 21, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a bomber jacket and YSL tee, and Amber Rose attend the Givenchy fashion show during Paris Fashion Week on March 8, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a white tux, and Amber Rose attend the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week on January 26, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a classic tux, and Selita Ebanks leave the Grazia Masquerade Ball at Opera Garnier on October 5, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in all black, arrives for the Australian premiere of his music video 'Runaway' at the Hoyts Entertainment Centre Cinema on October 11, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a leopard bomber, attends the Vivienne Westwood show during Paris Fashion Week on March 4, 2011 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a chic tux, and Carine Roitfeld attend amfAR's Cinema Against Aids Gala during the 64th Cannes Film Festival at Hotel Du Cap on May 19, 2011 in Antibes, France. Getty Images -
Chanel Iman and Kanye West, in a tee and blazer, attend the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week on October 2, 2011 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a denim jacket and chains, during London Fashion Week at Somerset House on February 20, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in all white, attend the Valentino show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Dior, arrives at the Christian Dior show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 28, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in a crisp white suit, attend the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Givenchy, attend the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2013. EPA -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Givenchy, attend the Givenchy show as part of the Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a fur coat, attends the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 17, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Lanvin, arrive for the Met Gala in New York on May 5, 2014. EPA -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Balmain, attend the Balmain show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 25, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Lanvin, attend the Lanvin show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 25, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Haider Ackermann, attends the Celine show as part of Paris Fashion Week on September 28, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in leather trousers, and Kim Kardashian arrive for the Lacma Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles, California, on November 1, 2014. EPA -
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, in Balmain, arrive for the 57th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA -
Kanye West, in a white suit jacket, during London Fashion Week at St Paul's Cathedral on February 20, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images -
Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, in Balmain, and Kris Jenner attend the Balmain show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in a black blazer, Olivier Rousteing and Kim Kardashian attend the Balmain dinner as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Dior, and Lorde attend the Christian Dior show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear on March 6, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Haider Ackermann, and Kim Kardashian attend the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear on March 11, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Haider Ackermann, and Kim Kardashian arrive for the Time 100 Gala in New York on April 21, 2015. EPA -
Kayne West, in Yeezy, and Kim Kardashian arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 30, 2015. EPA -
Kris Jenner and Kanye West, in Dries Van Noten, attend the Vogue 95th Anniversary Party on October 3, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Balmain, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2016. EPA -
Kanye West, in Louis Vuitton, and Kim Kardashian attend the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images -
Kanye West, in Duhill, attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd annual Academy Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, California, on February 9, 2020. EPA
