Kanye West plans to purchase social network Parler

Kanye West, better known as the rapper Ye, is in the process of purchasing the social network Parler, which has a conservative political leaning.

In a press release issued on Monday, Parlement Technologies, the parent company of Parler, stated that Ye “has become the richest Black man in history through music and apparel and is taking a bold stance against his recent censorship by Big Tech, using his far-reaching talents to further lead the fight to create a truly non-cancelable environment.”

Ye’s Instagram and Twitter accounts were shut down earlier this month because he made anti-Semitic comments, which Instagram and Twitter said was against their policies.

The specifics of Ye’s acquisition of Parler were not made public. The transaction is anticipated to be finalized by the end of the year.

“In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” Ye said in a statement.

After its launch in 2018, Parler saw a significant increase in the number of users immediately after the presidential election of 2020. The platform markets itself as a place where conservative ideas can be discussed and as an alternative to other social media sites.

After the assault on the United States Capitol on January 6, however, Amazon decided to suspend hosting the firm on its online service. The e-commerce giant said that Parler had failed to restrict information that may inspire violence, and this was in response to Amazon’s statement. Other sites associated with mainstream media likewise banned Parler from using their services.

In the days preceding the brawl at the Capitol, followers of former President Trump and members of far-right organizations like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers used a platform called Parler to call for violence on January 6 and coordinate preparations to enter the building.

In a statement released on Monday, the chief executive officer of Parlement, George Farmer, stated that the company was “making a revolutionary entry into the free speech media arena” and that Ye “will never have to worry about being taken off social media again.”

Bloomberg placed West at the top of their list of the richest African Americans in 2021, estimating his net worth to be $6 billion.