In a recent series of tweets, Varg Vikernes has come forward to express his support for Kanye West amidst the controversy surrounding West’s decision to wear a Burzum T-shirt.
Vikernes, whose past is marred by criminal convictions and controversial views, shared a cover of his book ‘To Hell and Back Again: Part I: My Black Metal Story,’ using it as a platform to address the backlash and wrote:
“To all those who want me to speak ill of Kayne West: no, he is not ‘stealing’ or ‘ripping off’ anything I do. As I have written in my book about black metal (see image), it is perfectly normal, natural & fine to be inspired by & to pick up ideas from other ‘artists.'”
A Challenge To The Status Quo
He further commended West’s bravery for putting on the Burzum shirt, given the potential backlash from the music industry, saying:
“And frankly, I think it shows courage to publicly wear a Burzum shirt, like he has done. You risk the wrath (including boycott) of an entire music industry, completely under the control of… ‘a certain group.’ So kudos to him for that.”
The musician added in a separate tweet:
“How many ‘White”‘ artists out there are wearing Burzum t-shirts in public? Makes you think…”
Controversy Surrounding West
The controversy ignited when a photo shared by JPEGMAFIA on Instagram revealed West wearing merchandise from Burzum, a band infamous not just for its black metal music but also for Vikernes’s pro-Nazi views, racial statements, and criminal history. The image and West’s choice of apparel drew sharp criticism online, with one user commenting:
“Not Kanye wearing a Burzum shirt… He ain’t coming back from this one.”
West’s Statement Of Regret
This incident comes on the heels of Kanye’s own series of controversies, including his 2022 antisemitic remarks. Later, West issued an apology to the Jewish community, stating:
“I sincerely apologize to the Jewish community for any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions. It was not my intention to hurt or disrespect, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused. I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding in the future.”
Varg, once linked to neo-Nazi ideologies, was convicted in 1994 for murder and arson, spending 15 years behind bars. Despite disavowing Nazism later, his online activities continue to fuel accusations of xenophobia and racism.
See the tweets below.
https://twitter.com/BornLik23266/status/1748696802956628106
https://twitter.com/BornLik23266/status/1748702762831847527
