Rapper Kanye West did one of the bravest and most original things that’s happened on “Saturday Night Live” in years this weekend — he performed while wearing a Make America Great Again hat.
The Trump-supporting artist took things a step further, too, by sharing with the audience his right-leaning beliefs — in a speech that was cut off by cameras.
The “SNL” audience is typically not exposed to the Right’s side of the issues, that is for sure.
“The blacks weren’t always Democrats. You know, it’s like the plan they did, to take the fathers out [of] the home and put them on welfare. Does anybody know about that? That’s a Democratic plan,” West said in his final performance of the night.
“There’s so many times I talk to, like, a white person about this and they say, ‘How could you like Trump? He’s racist.’ Well, uh, if I was concerned about racism I would’ve moved out of America a long time ago.”
Part of West’s speech — the part that didn’t make the “SNL” cut — was captured by comedian Chris Rock:
So when SNL cut out tonight right as Kanye was telling everybody to come back on stage, turns out he stood there for minutes afterward and incoherently ranted about his “Superman cape” red hat, Trump, and the Sunken Place. Look how awkward the cast looks. pic.twitter.com/WP67rTPswa
— CRT (@StoryofEverest) September 30, 2018
The rapper also talked about the country’s need for a “dialogue, not a diatribe.”
West revealed that he was “bullied” backstage and told not to wear his MAGA hat.
The rapper shrugged off the request and said the hat was his “Superman cape.” He told the crowd that “you can’t tell me what to do.”
West, 41, continued, “Thank y’all for giving me this platform. I know some of y’all don’t agree, but y’all be going at that man’s [Donald Trump] neck a lot, and I don’t think it’s actually that helpful.”
He then added, “Ninety percent of news are liberal.”
West’s producing partner, Mike Dean, criticized “Saturday Night Live” for cutting off the Grammy winner during his final performance.
KANYE SNL TALK THAT GOT CUT OFF FREEDOM OF SPEECH SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED pic.twitter.com/IpULoEJxsN
— MIKE DEAN! #MWA (@therealmikedean) September 30, 2018
Looks like we missed a lot after the credits ?
Kanye is back to talking about running for president in 2020.
?: @chrisrock pic.twitter.com/yObaal85CA
— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) September 30, 2018
West’s time on stage was a breath of fresh air, considering that “Saturday Night Live” is just continuing its aggressive push leftward.
The season premiere of the show featured Academy Award winner Matt Damon in the cold open as Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh; in the sketch, Damon made the man look like a buffoon.
West is already enjoying plenty of support for his decision to stand up for Trump and conservatives on the show.
Conservative commentator Candace Owens called West a “hero.”
.@kanyewest IS A HERO.
Shame on every single person, on both sides of the aisle, who couldn’t see that early on.
He is moving this country and the world forward with sheer bravery.
Remember that when you write your meaningless articles.
Real bravery takes risk.
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 30, 2018
“Gosnell” director and “Justified” star Nick Searcy said the move to wear the MAGA hat was “genius.”
Genius. https://t.co/Vhk1c7SDq9
— Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) September 30, 2018
Others praised West, too, for standing up for his beliefs in the unfriendliest of places.
Kanye talking about how some people at SNL tried to bully him into not wearing the MAGA hat but he’s free, he’s not in their sunken place. Bravo Kanye. Be you. Be Ye. We aren’t the stereotypes they want to project and when you aren’t, you’re dangerous. pic.twitter.com/qhXMh1f0xH
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) September 30, 2018
.@kanyewest speech after the “ghost town” SNL episode was cut off before he could finish.
Here’s the clip you missed. It’s important. pic.twitter.com/PMmxzFPC9J
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) September 30, 2018
Thank you @kanyewest for standing up for you and spreading love not hate. I’m with you. The nation is with you ??❤️?? #Walkaway #Redwave #snl #kanyewest #love pic.twitter.com/qEzx735VKO
— Kaya Jones (@KayaJones) September 30, 2018
Ye and Me. @kanyewest great job on Saturday Night Lame pic.twitter.com/dVcXplABjM
— Steve ?Mudflap ?McGrew (@stevemcgrew) September 30, 2018
And there were also a few leftists angered by the fact that their political “safe space” was infiltrated by a Trump supporter.
Tragic that not only that someone with the platform of Kanye West does not understand the basics of US racial and political history but that he maintained this ignorance despite his mother being a professor of African American studies.
— jelani cobb (@jelani9) September 30, 2018
Never ever thought I would say this, but I hate Kanye West.
— You Know My Name (@LookAtDustin) September 30, 2018
Though he said he was told not to wear the MAGA hat on camera, Kanye West said “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels promised the rapper would host the show before the year is out.
had so much fun at SNL. Lorne agreed that I would host before the year is out. Need to set a date. Gonna be sooooooooo lit. In the words of Lil Pump …Esskeetit !
— ye (@kanyewest) September 30, 2018
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