Since Kanye West’s return to social media, he’s gone off the rails with rants at TMZ, outrageous hot takes about slavery and the 14th amendment, all while strengthening his relationship with the self-proclaimed nationalist, Donald Trump. While, few people have maintained unwavering support for the G.O.O.D. Music boss, including his wife and in-laws, others have washed their hands with the Chicago native.
In fact, music video director, Joseph Kahn, who has worked with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Destiny’s Child, 50 Cent and some of the most polarizing artists, says his business draws the line at the controversial musician.
“No, absolutely not,” Kahn told Business Insider when asked if he would ever direct a music video for the “Jesus Walks” rapper. As he continued, he condemned West’s in-laws for their own involvement in the circus act that is the relationship between ‘Ye and Trump.
“I find the Kanye/Kardashian culture so – to me it’s hand in hand with the Trump world,” Kahn added. “There’s a lack of thought that’s masquerading as thought. It’s using the power of brand as the power of thought. And if anything, I’m so immersed in the power of brands, I try to put thought in the brands and I don’t see thought going on there. I just see crazy people flinging around and just trying to make money and call it thought.”
“I choose who I want to work with,” Kahn continued, as he explained the reasoning behind his decision to not work with West. “I have to be very careful what to use my skill set for. Everybody loves to make money, obviously, everybody loves to be comfortable, but you also have to be careful what you put out there. Look, I make silly music videos for a living, but I just want to make sure that I’m being responsible with the power that I’ve been given.”
