Kanye West Responds To Obama’s ‘American Dream’ Criticism, Is Weirdly Cordial
In our continuing coverage of one eccentric rapper’s journey to become a normal human being again, Kanye West has responded to President Obama’s criticism of him and his baby mama Kim Kardashian, and here’s the kicker: He was kind of nice about it.
Not too long ago, President Obama criticized the lavish lifestyle lived by our celebrities and best exemplified by Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. He lamented that 24/7 coverage and social media have provided “a window into the lifestyles of the rich and famous” and arguing that it’s partially at fault for “shifting American values.”
“Kids weren’t monitoring every day what Kim Kardashian was wearing, or where Kanye West was going on vacation, and thinking that somehow that was the mark of success,” Obama said.
It was an interesting point, and just another chapter in President Obama’s longtime criticism of Ye. But Kanye West sort of took the high road in responding to President Obama, presenting a perfectly viable counter-argument.
“So Obama basically said we’re the new American dream. I think he was posing it like I was supposed to take it in a negative way, but I’m just so happy that the president mentions me so often,” Kanye said when confronted about Obama’s comments on Kris Jenner’s talk show.
“Thank you very much, Obama!” he deadpanned, before returning to the point:
“I do think people should want to go on vacation or travel, because that’s what opens people’s minds. When I was in 5th grade, we went to China and I lived there for a year and I could speak Chinese… Also because my dad lived in an area that was mostly white and my mom stayed in Chicago in an area that’s mostly black and has gang activity, I had to navigate all these worlds. That scope is what I brought into my creations, to the music I make, to the clothing I make. When I design a shoe with Nike, that’s mentality is what I brought. So as Obama is talking about that, yes, they’re looking at what she’s wearing and where we’re going for vacation because this is the way we relate to this new information age. There will be new people getting passports and wanting to travel. They’ll hear songs like ‘N—-s in Paris’ and they’ll be like, ‘I want to be a n—a in Paris!’ “
He wrapped his point with a joke: “Oh — do you have to beep the Paris word?”
During his appearance, he also talked about his love for Kim and their daughter, North “Nori” West, which really kind of caught us off guard, especially given his increasingly agitated behavior lately. Kanye West is starting to act… well, he’s starting to act normal again. I’m rooting for you, Ye!
