Source: Screengrab via BBC Radio 1/YouTube
Kanye West On Michael Jackson Documentary: "If We Going To Tear Down One Artist, Let's Take Down All The Art"
Source: Screengrab via BBC Radio 1/YouTube
Kanye made the remark during his "Sunday Service" series.
Kanye West has offered his thoughts on the forthcoming documentary on Michael Jackson called Leaving Neverland, which is centered around two men who claim that they were sexually abused by the pop singer when they were children.
READ: Michael Jackson Estate Calls Sexual Abuse Documentary "Outrageous And Pathetic"
During his "Sunday Service" series, where he performs gospel renditions of his songs, West addressed the Jackson documentary.
"They just gon’ pull up full documentaries on 'em and then they gon' come with the Michael documentary. We can enjoy all they music all we want," he said. "I thought I wasn't gonna go there today but [laughs]…because if we going to tear down one artist, let's go ahead and take the da Vincis outta the Louvre while we're at it, let's take down all the art."
Some have also speculated that West's statement was a response to the controversy surrounding R. Kelly following the release of the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly.
However, Kim Kardashian-Westtook to Twitter to speak on her husband's statement, saying:
"Kanye was speaking about his own experience of everyone quick to say they are cancelling him because of differences in opinion & not being perfect. The analogies were in context to his own experiences, not defending anyone else."
The Michael Jackson estate has called the forthcoming documentary, which will premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, "outrageous and pathetic."
"This is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson," the estate said. "Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them. Safechuck and Robson, the latter a self-proclaimed 'master of deception', filed lawsuits against Michael’s Estate, asking for millions of dollars. Both lawsuits were dismissed."