Kanye West Calls 400 Years Of Slavery “A Choice” [VIDEO]

Kanye West has sparked serious backlash after stating in an interview with TMZ that he thinks slavery was “a choice.”

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West met with TMZ and political commentator Candace Owens to discuss the political nature of today’s society.

we got love. Doing TMZ live with Harvey and Candace Owens pic.twitter.com/yoZdHwpdis

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

During the conversation, he said he believes slavery is a choice. “When you hear about slavery for 400 years — for 400 years? That sounds like a choice. Like, you were there for 400 years and it’s all of y’all … It’s like we’re mentally in prison,” West explained.

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He then went on to explain that he prefers the term “imprisoned” rather than “slavery” because “slavery goes too direct to the idea of blacks.”

West believes that prison unites all races together, rather than separate us. “Prison is something that unites us as one race, blacks and whites as one race,” he says. “That we’re the human race.”

Following the release of this interview, West experienced immediate backlash from fans and celebrities alike.

Kanye got people believing slavery was a choice. Kanye West. Slavery. A CHOICE. Our ancestors were insulted, sold, raped, beaten, etc. all because they chose to be. I don’t usually let celebrity banter get under my skin but he did it.

— bb. (@brandon_17k) May 1, 2018

I never thought I’d ever be retweeting TMZ or Kanye West, but saying 400 years of slavery was a choice?

A choice?

Whether you want to see A Quiet Place or Avengers: Infinity War is a choice.

Chattel slavery was not a choice. https://t.co/6ceTjN4q4J

— Mark Pitcavage (@egavactip) May 1, 2018

Kanye is saying these things because he’s rich. If his ass was still broke in Chicago he wouldn’t have the same energy.

— Tokyo Diiva (@TokyoDiiva) May 1, 2018

Kanye is honestly dangerous. those of us who know better know he’s wrong, but so much of his audience doesn’t and they blindly follow him. he reminds me of his “brother.” https://t.co/VrT41UABsl

— Quinta (@quintabrunson) May 1, 2018