Kanye West to buy free speech platform Parler

What happened now? Parler, a social network that bills itself as an uncensored alternative to Twitter, is being bought by a surprise buyer: E, better known as Kanye West. Parlement Technologies’ parent company says it has entered into an agreement in principle with the musician to acquire a “groundbreaking irrevocable free speech platform.”

“In a world where conservative views are considered controversial, we need to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” West said in a press statement.

Parler, which you can safely download here, has rarely stayed out of controversy since it launched in 2018. He has proved popular with conservatives and those on the right-wing political spectrum, who have accused Twitter and Facebook of hushing up their voices on issues like Trump and COVID-19. He even managed to attract high-profile users such as Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Fox News anchor Sean Hannity.

But since the attack on the Capitol on January 6 last year, Parler has been blocked from the Google Play and Apple app stores. Parler changed its policy and was reinstated by Cupertino a few months later in May 2021, while Google only brought it back last month, a full 18 months after the ban.

Parler writes that West’s proposed acquisition ensures that the platform plays a future role in creating “an immutable ecosystem where all voices are welcome.” CEO George Farmer hailed the artist as “a compatriot fighting for free speech”.

“This deal will change the world and change the way the world thinks about free speech. E is taking a pioneering step into the free speech media space and you will never have to fear being removed from social media again. Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of traditional media stories. Parliament will be honored to help him achieve his goals,” Farmer said in a statement.

Both parties intend to conclude a definitive purchase agreement and expect to close the deal in the fourth quarter of 2022.

West made headlines last week after Instagram restricted his account due to his post showing an alleged text conversation with Sean “Diddy” Combs in which West suggested that Combs was controlled by Jews. West was also banned from his Twitter account for tweeting “I’m a little sleepy today, but when I wake up I’m going on a death scam 3 on the Jewish people.” Perhaps the actions of the companies pushed West to buy Parler.

West, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016, is no stranger to offline controversy. He made anti-Semitic comments and talked about various conspiracy theories during unverified segments of a Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson. He also wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt at Paris Fashion Week.

Title: David Shankbone