Kanye West Justifies Tucker Carlson’s ‘White Lives Matter’ Shirt by Saying ‘It Was Funny’

Days after Kanye West flaunted a long-sleeved shirt that read “White Lives Matter,” Kanye West justified the decision in an interview with Tucker Carlson. West told the Fox News host that he found the “idea of ​​me wearing it funny” and that he also liked the “White Lives Matter” message “because they do.”

West was joined in the French capital by right-wing commentator Candace Owens, a frequent guest of Carlson, who also wore a T-shirt with the same slogan. When Carlson asked West about a lanyard he wore for the interview, his response was similar to what anti-abortion activist Owens said when asked about the fashion statement.

“It’s a photo of a baby’s ultrasound,” West said. “It just represents life. I am for life.”

“So you wear it on a badge. What kind of answer do you get?” Carlson followed.

“I don’t care about people’s reaction,” West replied. “I’m interested in the fact that more black babies are being aborted in New York City right now than are being born. That 50 percent of black deaths in America are abortion. So I really don’t care how people react. I’m performing in front of an audience, and that’s God.”

“I’m starting to understand why they want to shut you up,” replied Carlson, who then asked about West’s rationale for the White Lives Matter shirt and what it means.

“I do certain things based on a feeling. I’m just channeling the energy. It just feels right. It uses gut instinct, a connection to God and just plain brilliance,” replied West, who also wore a Make America Great Again hat and praised former President Donald Trump, whom he once visited in the Oval Office.

“My dad is an educated ex-Black Panther and texted me today. He said, ‘White Lives Matter hahaha.’ And I said I thought the shirt was a funny shirt. I found the idea of ​​me wearing it funny. And I said, ‘Dad, why do you think that’s funny?’ And he said, ‘Just a black guy stating the obvious.’”

Earlier in the day, Adidas said its partnership with West was “under investigation” following “repeated efforts to resolve the situation privately”. (West responded on Instagram by repeating his claim that the company “stole” his designs.)

“You said that when your father saw the shirt – ‘White Lives Matter’ – said it was great to see a black man stating the obvious. By which I think you meant that’s obviously true,” Carlson said.

“Yeah, that was my favorite answer because I kept thinking like people were looking for an explanation. And people say that as an artist you don’t have to explain yourself. But as a leader, you do,” West replied, to which Carlson agreed.

“The answer to why I wrote ‘White Lives Matter’ on a t-shirt is because they do. It’s the obvious.”