New allegations of anti-Semitism and the inner workings of Kanye West’s 2024 presidential campaign will be revealed in a brand new BBC documentary.
The problem with KanYe hhears new first-hand allegations that the rapper, now known as Ye, made a slew of anti-Semitic remarks against tech entrepreneur, former friend and business partner, Alex Klein.
Klein, who created Ye’s Stem Player for his Donda 2 album, tells the BBC’s Mobeen Azhar a never-before-heard story about when the pair split following the rapper’s anti-Semitic remarks.
Discussing the decision to no longer work with Ye and his subsequent response, Alex said:
“We turned down $10 million. Kanye was very angry, you know, saying “I feel like I want to hit you” and “You’re just like the other Jews” – almost enjoying and enjoying how offensive he could be, using these phrases hoping to hurt me’.
Alex continued, “I asked him and I said ‘do you really think Jews are working together to stop you?'” and he said “yes, yes I do but it’s not even a statement I have to take back look to all the energy around me right now. Without that statement, I wouldn’t be president.”
Ye was banned from Twitter last year and lost a string of lucrative sponsorship deals after making several anti-Semitic statements
Watch The Trouble with KanYe on BBC Two on Wednesday 28 June at 9pm or watch afterwards on BBC iPlayer
Klein, who created Ye’s Stem Player for his Donda 2 album, tells the BBC’s Mobeen Azhar a never-before-heard story about when the couple broke up after the rapper’s anti-Semitic remarks
Ye was banned from Twitter last year and lost a string of lucrative sponsorship deals after making several anti-Semitic statements.
He wrote: ‘I’m a little sleepy tonight, but when I wake up I’m going to die con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.
‘The funny thing is that I can’t actually be anti-Semitic, because black people are actually Jewish too. You have played with me and tried to blackball anyone who ever opposes your agenda.”
He was widely criticized, but later doubled down on the comments.
After hearing firsthand some of Ye’s statements from Klein, Mobeen traveled to Cornerstone Christian Church in California, which Ye is known to visit.
While there, he met a man living in his car outside the church who said that Ye had asked him to be his presidential election campaign manager for 2024.
The homeless person, Mark, said Ye regularly attends Cornerstone Christian Church, where white nationalist Nick Fuentes is known to hold political rallies.
He told Mobeen, “They all said I was the most religiously erudite in the room and Kanye started looking to me for my opinion on every topic that came up.
“He called me the following Monday, the Monday before Thanksgiving, and the first thing he said to me was, ‘I want you to be my campaign manager to run for president.'”
Mobeen had decided to visit the California church after seeing a video of Ye present in hopes of somehow connecting with him, but had not realized the extent to which Ye was connected to the property or the people within it .
The pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church, who did not want to be filmed for the documentary, told Mobeen that Ye had bought part of the property and had “big plans.”
The pastor showed Mobeen a room full of workers on sewing machines with mood boards on the wall featuring new designs for his Yeezy brand.
Also featured in the documentary is John Boyd, the mastermind behind Ye’s 2020 presidential campaign
Mobeen tours part of the California Church where Ye makes shoes and clothes
Watch The Trouble with KanYe on BBC Two on Wednesday 28 June at 9pm or watch back on BBC iPlayer afterwards. The Kanye Story will also be available as a box set on BBC Sounds from June 28 and will be broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 1Xtra from July 3
Also featured in the documentary is John Boyd, the mastermind behind Ye’s 2020 presidential campaign.
John spoke to Mobeen about the chaotic rally in South Carolina in which Ye gave an extended speech that was streamed live around the world.
The rally made headlines after the rapper burst into tears while talking about abortion.
According to John, Ye was meant to share his vision for America’s future, but went off script, describing his entire speech as a “train wreck.”
In the eight-part podcast The Kanye Story, which will be available on BBC Sounds with the BBC Two documentary, Mobeen Azhar tells the story of Ye’s life, career and downfall in greater depth.
With the help of a range of guests, from critics and commentators who have closely followed the artist throughout his career, to artistic collaborators who lament Ye’s public outbursts, the series explores Ye’s rise and fall from an insider’s perspective.
Contributors include artist and close collaborator Malik Yusef, journalist and music critic Dorian Lynskey, wealth reporter for Forbes Magazine Marisa Dellato, artist and mental health advocate Bassey Ikpi, and more.
- Watch The Trouble with KanYe on BBC Two on Wednesday 28 June at 9pm or watch afterwards on BBC iPlayer
- The Kanye Story will also be available as a box set on BBC Sounds from June 28 and will be broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 1Xtra from July 3