YouTube music reviewer Anthony Fantano recently faced backlash from Kanye West fans after he referred to West's latest album as 'unreviewable.' This statement led online commentators to accuse Fantano of hypocrisy. West's album, titled 'Vultures 1,' was released amidst controversy, with singer Ozzy Osbourne claiming that West sampled a live version of Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' without permission.
During his review, Fantano also referenced West's behavior over the past few years. West has been known to endorse and spread antisemitic theories, including expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler during a 2022 interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Fantano commented on this, stating, 'At some point, I think he realized how much he messed up with all of that, so now he has to own this total dumpster fire he's created. Even if [West] does genuinely apologize and change his behavior, his public image is forever altered by all of this.'
Since posting the video, critics have argued that Fantano exhibited hypocrisy in his stance. They pointed out that he had previously reviewed albums by artists such as Lil Durk and Gucci Mane, who have been associated with violence or criminal activities. Streamer xQc, also known as Félix Lengyel, notably challenged Fantano's inconsistency, questioning why he hadn't made similar efforts to hold such artists accountable. He emphasized the impact their lyrics could have on the families of the deceased.
Furthermore, critics and social media users highlighted Fantano's past review of the Norwegian Black Metal band Burzum, led by Varg Vikernes. Vikernes has influenced elements of West's new album and has a notorious history, including arrests and potential involvement in infamous church burnings. However, Fantano had reviewed their music without facing the same level of scrutiny.
In response to the backlash, Fantano took to Twitter to address the criticism. He clarified, 'Never said Ye is too terrible of a person to review. It's a strawman of my argument. My point is the well with Ye is so poisoned that you can't acknowledge his antisemitism and declining music quality without his fans smearing and gaslighting.'
While Anthony Fantano's review of Kanye West's album sparked controversy and accusations of hypocrisy, it has also raised important questions about the responsibility of music critics in addressing problematic behavior within the industry. As fans and listeners, it is important to engage critically with the art we consume and hold artists accountable when necessary.
