Kanye West Fires Back After E-Commerce Ban with Bold $40M Claim

Entertainment
Alex Bollinger
February 19, 2025
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7 minutes read

(Photo Credit: Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images)

E-commerce giant Shopify has removed Kanye West’s online store after an offensive product from his Yeezy brand sparked backlash. However, West, also known as Ye, claimed that the takedown did not affect him financially, boasting that he had already generated $40 million in sales before the removal.

The controversial item at the center of the dispute was a $20 white T-shirt emblazoned with a black swastika, a symbol widely condemned for its association with Nazi ideology.

In his usual outspoken manner, the 47-year-old artist took to social media to share his reaction. “I SAID ALL THESE POLITICALLY INCORRECT THINGS AND NOBODY WAS ABLE TO STOP ME EXTORT ME THREATEN ME TO CHANGE ANYTHING,” he wrote. “AND I MADE 40 MILLION THE NEXT DAY BETWEEN MY DIFFERENT BUSINESS.”

Ye also took aim at Shopify in a now-deleted post, stating, “THIS WAS A MAJOR VICTORY BECAUSE I HATE SHOPIFY AND I ALWAYS HAVE. I KNEW THEY WOULD DO SOME ******** LIKE THIS.”

Kanye West and bianca censori grammys 2025 — (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, defended the company’s decision to remove West’s store, emphasizing that the move was in line with company policies. In a previous interview with CNBC News, Finkelstein explained, “This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices. They violated our terms. We removed them.”

He further addressed the situation on a personal note, saying, “I’m a proud Jewish entrepreneur. So, obviously, I’m devastated by that.” The controversy has further fueled debates over the balance between free speech and corporate responsibility, with many praising Shopify’s decision while others question the extent of platform moderation.