Kanye West makes a statement.
The rapper hosted a surprise Yeezy fashion show on Monday, showing off his Season 9 collection with much fanfare.
Before the models appeared, West gave a speech wearing a “White Lives Matter” t-shirt and the same dazzled flip flops he wore last week. He referred to the robbery of Kim Kardashian, his then-manager Scooter Braun, the difficulties he faced entering the fashion industry, his recent feud with Gap and much more.
“I’m Ye and everyone here knows I’m the leader,” he said at one point. “You can’t manage me.”
Before the show, Ye teased some of the famous models expected to make an appearance: ex-wife Kim Kardashian, ex-girlfriend Irina Shayk and current flame Candice Swanepoel and other big names such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Lauryn Hill, Naomi Campbell, Emily Ratajkowski, Gisele Bundchen, Bella Hadid, Amelia Hamlin.
‘There are just people. From the same planet. And sometimes, in high school, it feels like we don’t belong. And in a situation like this, we have the opportunity to come together to express who we are,” West told Vogue of his vision for the runway for the show.
“It leans in the shape of how I see this future world… this alternate world. But in high school. It focuses on the curriculum because both my parents are educators.”
West has attended fashion shows in London and Paris this week, and even made his runway debut as a model, opening the Balenciaga fashion show on Saturday. Khloé Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and North West sat front row for the star’s walk down the muddy runway.
Previous Yeezy fashion shows have been marred by disaster, previously with guests waiting for hours in the hot sun, models passing out and more. However, this is the first time West is bringing his designs to Paris Fashion Week – following news that he will be ending his partnership with Gap.