Kanye: Vogue Defends Fashion Editor ‘Targeted & Bullied’ By Rapper

Vogue is defending its global fashion editor at large, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, amid Kanye West's online attacks. "Vogue stands with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, our global fashion editor at large and longtime contributor. She was personally targeted and bullied. It is unacceptable," the magazine wrote in a Tuesday Instagram post.

"Now more than ever, voices like hers are needed and in a private meeting with Ye today she once again spoke her truth in a way she felt best, on her terms."

On Tuesday (Oct. 4) in a since-deleted post, Ye commented on a photo Karefa-Johnson's outfit which was "brown boots, a striped knit skirt, a yellow graphic T-shirt and a corduroy trench coat," Page Six describes adding that the journalist, "accessorized her look with a blue Balenciaga bag, large shades and a statement necklace."

"This is not a fashion person," West captioned a photo on Instagram per the outlet. "You speak on Ye Ima speak on you Ask Trevor Noah," he said referencing his prior feud with the comedian.

In another post, the rapper wrote of the editor’s outfit, “I KNOOOOOW ANNA HAAAATES THESE BOOTS,” referring to Vogue Editor-In-Chief Anna Wintour.

Supermodel model GiGi Hadid defended Karefa-Johnson and commented on the post, "You wish u had a percentage of her intellect. You have no idea haha…If there’s actually a point to any of your s--- she might be the only person that could save u."

West decided to attack the fashion journalist after she critiqued his YZY SZN 9 collection that debuted at Paris Fashion Week as Black models were seen wearing "White Lives Matter" t-shirts.

Ye defended his "White Lives Matter" shirts on Instagram Tuesday writing, "Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam now it’s over you’re welcome."

"I’m fuming… collecting my thoughts …," Karefa-Johnson wrote via her Instagram Story and called the rapper's design "indefensible behavior."

"I guess I get what he tried to do– he thought it was duchampian. It wasn’t," she wrote in another IG Story per the outlet. "It didn’t land and it was deeply offensive, violent and dangerous."

Later that evening, Ye took to Instagram to apologize to Karefa-Johnson.

"GABBY IS MY SISTER," he wrote on Instagram and sharing a photo of the journalist.

"IM NOT LETTING PEOPLE GO TO BED THINKING I DIDN’T MEET WITH GABRIELLE AT 5 PM TODAY FOR 2 HOURS THEN WE WENT TO DINNER AT FERDIE [a popular Italian restaurant in New York City]."

Ye claimed that their meeting was filmed by Baz Luhrmann, the director of the movie Elvis at the request of Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour.

The rapper also claimed they posed for pictures afterward, but he was "instructed to not post them."

"WE APOLOGIZED TO EACH OTHER FOR THE WAY WE MADE EACH OTHER FEEL WE ACTUALLY GOT ALONG AND HAVE BOTH EXPERIENCED THE FIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE IN A WORLD THAT’S NOT OUR OWN," he wrote.

The rapper concluded the message by saying, "SHE DISAGREED I DISAGREED WE DISAGREED. AT LEAST WE BOTH LOVE FERDIE AND FASHION."

Hadid commented on the post correcting the rapper, "It’s Gabriella*."

Ye later called the supermodel out in an Instagram post: "I wonder what GiGi and Venus's perspectives were when I didn't know where my child was on her birthday," he wrote. Ye did not specify who "Venus" was in his post.

"Gabby told me that she disagreed with that (and that's me putting it in a nice way). She said it was on her group chats so why did everyone feel so free to attack me on my t-shirt but Candace Owens was the only public figure to say it was wrong for the Kardashians to keep me away from seeing my daughter," he wrote.

He added: "Or are we just going to chime in when we want to bring a Black man down for actually having a political opinion."

"And for all audience so outraged about my t-shirt, where was you when I couldn't see my kids. I went public in hope of public support at that time."

Kanye has responded to the backlash over his "White Lives Matter" shirt he wore to his YZY SZN 9 collection that debuted in Paris Monday (Oct. 3).

The Yeezy founder wore a "White Lives Matter" t-shirt that made rounds on social media.
The rapper additionally posed for a photo next to Candace Owens in matching "White Lives Matter" shirts, which featured an image of Pope John Paul II on the front. The conservative commentator reposted the photo to her Twitter account.

Various models, including Lauryn Hill’s 23-year-old daughter Selah Marley, also wore the shirt on the runway which also made the emcee trend alongside West and Owens.

"Everyone knows that Black Lives Matter was a scam," Ye wrote on his Instagram Story per HipHopDX referencing the multi-million dollar financial scandals of the organization. "Now its over[.] You’re welcome."

The backlash was not well received by celebrities such as Jaden Smith, rapper Boosie and Hollywood Unlocked's Jason Lee.

“I Had To Dip Lol,” tweeted Smith after leaving the Yeezy Season 9 show in protest. “True Leaders Lead. I Don’t Care Who’s It Is If I Don’t Feel The Message I’m Out. Black Lives Matter. We Demand A More Progressive Future.”

"@kanyewest AFTER ALL WE BEEN THROUGH AS A RACE YOU PUT THIS DISRESPECTFUL S--- ON!!" Boosie wrote on Twitter. "U GIVES NO F---- ABOUT HOW BLACKS HAVE DIED N SUFFERED TO THE HANDS OF THE WHITE MAN N U SAY BUSH DON’T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE…REALLY N----."

Hollywood Unlocked founder-CEO Jason Lee, who was appointed West’s head of media and partnerships in March, announced he no longer works with the rapper because of this recent incident.

"Very humble and thankful to Ye for the opportunity to work with him but that part of our relationship has come to an end," he wrote next to the aforementioned photo of Kanye and Candace Owens on his Instagram Stories per HipHopDX. "And I don’t support this."

The Black Lives Matter organization also commented on Kanye's controversial stunt.

"While some may see Kanye and Candace's stunt as a distraction, we recognize that it harms thousands of families fighting for justice for their loved ones killed by state-sanctioned violence," the organization told TMZ.

They described Ye's and Owen's stunt as "toxic confusion" and that it is "used to legitimize violent assaults on Black people."

"Kanye knows very well that 'white lives' have never been targeted for oppression," the organization continued. "Black folks, in contrast, are at the bottom of virtually every economic, social, and political measure because of centuries of individual and institutional racism."

BLM responded to Ye's "scam" claim in disagreement and says that the movement will help Black people because "when Black people get free, everybody gets free."

Take a look at the backlash Ye has gotten for his "White Lives Matter" shirt: