Kanye West Dropped By His Talent Agent, Why Didn't This Happen Sooner?

When the name “Kanye West” or “Ye” comes up in conversation, it almost feels like a dark omen.

Once hailed as a music and fashion genius, now the rapper-turned-designer has become infamous for his controversial and often dangerous tirades. Gone are the days when his name was synonymous with groundbreaking music or avant-garde fashion.

Now, his notoriety is based more on scandal, hatred, and controversy, making headlines for the wrong reasons—most recently when he was dropped by his talent agency.

Kanye West has officially been removed from the music roster of Los Angeles-based talent agency 33&West, and the decision to sever ties was made "effective immediately."

The agency’s representative confirmed this move, but shockingly, did not reveal how long West had been represented by them. Daniel McCartney, the agent overseeing West’s account, shared on Instagram that the decision came after West's increasingly harmful and hateful rhetoric. McCartney explained, “Myself nor 33&West can stand for” the rapper's toxic remarks. West’s series of vile comments led to his removal, but the question on many minds is: why did this not happen sooner? 

West, who has already alienated many in the industry with past outbursts, has ramped up his controversial behavior in recent weeks.

This includes a surprising appearance at the Grammys on February 2, where he walked the carpet with his wife, Bianca Censori, who appeared nude, immediately raising eyebrows. But the real chaos erupted afterward when West went on a racist and inappropriate social media storm.

On his X (formerly Twitter) account, he posted several offensive messages, including claiming that “he loves when Jewish people come to me and say they can’t work with me” and stating that he was “never apologizing for my Jewish comments.”

At one point, he even called himself a Nazi and made disturbing comments about Adolf Hitler, describing him as “so fresh.”

But the madness didn’t stop there. West went on to release a disturbing Yeezy.com advertisement during the Super Bowl, where he proudly showcased a swastika T-shirt that sold for $20.

The backlash was immediate, with e-commerce platform Shopify pulling down the website in violation of its terms. This incident, combined with his vile online outbursts, led to his X account being deactivated, further highlighting the rapper's escalating descent into controversy.

Adding to the chaos, a former marketing staffer for West has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was fired after he called her “ugly” and texted her “Hail Hitler.” The lawsuit, which was filed in L.A. Superior Court, claims that West regularly targeted his Jewish employees with hateful comments and derogatory messages, including text messages in which he described himself as a Nazi, saying “I Am A Nazi” and “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler.”

This is not the first time Kanye has caused outrage with antisemitic remarks.

In 2022, he was banned from X for declaring that he wanted to go “death con 3 on Jewish people.” The fallout from that incident included the termination of his lucrative Adidas contract and widespread condemnation across the industry.

Still, West’s controversies have not ceased, and this latest round of public outbursts seemed to be the tipping point.

The decision to part ways with West has affected not only his talent agency but also his internal team. West’s one-time chief of staff, Eric Cui, announced his departure on Instagram, citing his commitment to free speech but also emphasizing that “violence and crimes against women and children is wrong.” Cui's exit came shortly after West’s defense of Sean "Diddy" Combs in a controversial situation involving abuse allegations against Combs' ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Cui’s statement revealed his disillusionment with West’s recent actions, signaling a growing internal divide within the Yeezy camp.

It was, however, the disturbing marketing decision to promote the swastika T-shirt during the Super Bowl that truly marked a turning point. West had already been on a rampage on social media, and this ad felt like a shocking culmination of his spiraling behavior.

His words and actions, which included thanking Elon Musk for allowing him to speak freely without censorship, have led many to question why this behavior wasn’t addressed sooner.

West’s latest actions have left many wondering how long this behavior can continue without significant repercussions. While some continue to defend his so-called “free speech,” many in the entertainment industry are distancing themselves, choosing to stand up against the hate and harmful rhetoric he continues to promote.

As West’s public image continues to crumble, it’s clear that his career, once the epitome of innovation and artistic brilliance, has been overshadowed by the constant stream of controversy that now defines his name.

Kanye West’s downfall has been a slow-burning train wreck, and as the world watches, the question remains: will anyone step in to stop it before it’s too late?