Madame Tussauds has removed its wax figure of Kanye West from public view – becoming the latest institution to effectively “drop” the US rapper following antisemitic and anti-black remarks.
The landmark London museum moved the figure of the rapper – who has legally changed his name to Ye – to an archive room, a symbolic representation of his fall from grace over the past few days, during which he lost his talent representation, connections to major fashion houses and other lucrative relationships.
As sportswear brand Adidas ended its estimated €250m partnership with Ye, reportedly costing him his billionaire status, many are asking if the music and fashion mogul’s decades-long career is over.
“Ye’s figure has been retired from the attraction floor to our archive,” a spokesperson for Madame Tussauds London said. “Each profile earns their place at Madame Tussauds London and we listen to our guests and the public on who they expect to see at the attraction.”
The figurine was originally launched in the museum in 2015 alongside a waxwork of his then wife Kim Kardashian.
Ye had been ranked earlier this year at number 1,513 on Forbes’ rich list, valued at $2bn (£1.7bn) due to his fashion brands and deal with Adidas. Forbes now estimates that the rapper’s value is $400m – stemming from “real estate, cash, his music catalogue, and a 5% stake in ex-wife Kardashian’s shapewear firm, Skims”.
Talent agency CAA announced it has dropped Ye while the Balenciaga fashion house has also reportedly cut ties with the 45-year-old. A completed documentary about him has also been shelved.
In the past few days, Kardashian and members of her family have called for an end to the “terrible violence and hateful rhetoric” towards Jewish people.
Ye has been spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories for weeks in interviews and on social media. The black rapper was also criticised earlier this month for wearing a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt to the showing of his latest collection at Paris Fashion Week.
He has consistently faced backlash for his comments and actions, including his embrace of rightwing politics by sporting the red “Make America Great Again” hat and publicly supporting Donald Trump. Ye also declared slavery a “choice” and said that abolitionist Harriet Tubman “never actually freed the slaves”.
The family of George Floyd announced plans to sue Ye over his claim that Floyd died of fentanyl use when a jury concluded that Floyd was murdered by police officers.
Ye has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has previously been hospitalised for a psychiatric emergency – though experts warn his prejudices must be separated from any mental health issues.
Meanwhile, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek said that the comments were “awful” but that his music would stay on the platform. Ek added that it would be the decision of the rapper’s label, Universal Music’s Def Jam label, to pull the content.
