WASHINGTON (AFP) — Instagram and Twitter said they restricted American rapper Kanye West‘s accounts from posts deemed anti-Semitic.
A Twitter spokesperson told AFP on Sunday that West’s account had been suspended for violating the social media platform’s policies.
And a spokesperson for Instagram’s parent, Meta, told AFP the group removed content – without quoting the posts – from West’s account for breaking their rules.
Instagram has also restricted his account, which the same source said could prevent him from posting, commenting or sending private messages.
In the tweet, which is no longer visible on West’s account, the rapper said, “I’m a little sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m gonna die because of the JEWISH PEOPLE,” in apparent reference to an American army readiness code known as DEFCON.
The restrictions come after West, a black artist now known as Ye, sparked controversy when he wore a ‘White Lives Matter’ t-shirt to promote the ‘Black Lives Matter’ slogan.
The phrase “Black Lives Matter” has become a rallying cry for protests against racism and police brutality sparked by the 2020 killing of George Floyd.
On Friday, West, 45, posted screenshots of a conversation with rapper P Diddy on Instagram, who called out West about the t-shirt and his message.
“I take you as an example to show the Jews who told you to call me that no one can threaten me or influence me. I told you it was war. Now gone get you some business,” he wrote. The posts have since been deleted from the platform, but the images can still be found online.
He later said on Twitter that he would target Jews in a post blocked by the platform for violating their rules.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) suggested that West “foment hatred of Jews.”
“Kanye West should figure out how to say something without using anti-Semitism,” the organization said.
No stranger to controversy, West, who has spoken openly about his struggles with bipolar disorder, was previously banned from posting on Instagram for 24 hours in March amid a bitter divorce from reality star Kim Kardashian.
Earlier this week, German sportswear giant Adidas said it was reconsidering its partnership with West after being upset with the way the brand markets its products.
Last month, West and retail brand Gap also announced the end of a partnership.
