Kanye West’s decision to wear a Burzum t-shirt has escalated into a full-blown controversy, culminating in a merchandise collaboration that has drawn criticism from the metal community.
The controversy began when West was seen wearing a Burzum t-shirt in a photo with hip-hop artist JPEGMAFIA, shared by JPEGMAFIA on Instagram. This act alone sparked a backlash, given Burzum’s founder, Kristian’ Varg’ Vikernes, is notorious for his pro-Nazi views, racial statements, and a murder conviction in 1994.
Rockabilia’s Controversial Merchandise Release
Rockabilia, an online retailer for rock and metal merchandise, seized the moment to release a Kanye West/Burzum t-shirt, further fueling the controversy. The shirt features the Burzum wordmark over a photo of West wearing the band’s shirt, essentially turning the controversy into a meme. They announced the t-shirt with the following words on X:
“We didn’t. Actually, jk…we did. Now available to order on Rockabilia.com, so you can be the most hated kid at the next metal show you attend. Also, Ye for president 2024!”
Community Backlash
Rockabilia’s promotion of the shirt on X has been met with significant backlash from the community, with many calling the move tasteless and offensive. One person wrote:
“It’s not too late to delete this, you f*cking dorks.”
Another one said, agreeing with the previous comment:
“This is trash.”
One other person added:
“Damn, I thought you hit a low with the sh*tty lava lamps, but this is on a whole new level.”
An Unlikely Support From Vikernes
Amidst the backlash, Vikernes came forward to express his support for West wearing the Burzum shirt. Vikernes, addressing the controversy, stated that being inspired by other artists is ‘perfectly normal, natural, & fine’ and commended the rapper’s courage for wearing the shirt despite potential industry backlash.
In response to the broader controversies surrounding his actions and statements, West issued an apology to the Jewish community, regretting any pain his actions may have caused.
See all the tweets below.
We didn’t. Actually, jk…we did. Now available to order on https://t.co/gKhasRXA5H, so you can be the most hated kid at the next Metal show you attend. Also, Ye For President 2024! pic.twitter.com/QPXTuChvFj
— Rockabilia (@rockabilia) February 29, 2024
It's not too late to delete this, you fucking dorks.
— Myke C-Town Ⓥ (@mykectown) March 1, 2024
This is trash
— Electric Romeo (@ElectricR0MEO) February 29, 2024
damn i thought you hit a low with the shitty lava lamps but this is on a whole new level
— absolutely not (@bringbacksugar) March 1, 2024
