The Release Of Kanye West's New Music Video With Pete Davidson Coincides With The Release of Jeen-Yuhs Documentary And Sparks Controversy

Kanye West has provoked publicity and inspired memes throughout his entire career, but today with the posting of a video where he decapitates and buries his ex-wife Kim Kardashian's new boyfriend Pete Davidson and the release of the final installment of the Netflix documentary Jeen-Yuhs about his life, the spotlight shines on him even brighter than usual.

This 9 second clip is the most accurate description of Kanye’s music I’ve ever heard @theneedledrop pic.twitter.com/K8jkZ5K25o

— Kobe 🇯🇵 (@kobejlewis) March 3, 2022

The bizarre claymation music video, which placed Kanye at the center of a heated conversation about abuse and stalking, came out one day after the last installment of Netflix's documentary produced by Kanye’s longtime friend Coodie.

On Twitter right now, there is a bit of a split-screen moment. On one hand, long-time fans are making memes about the documentary and the emotional impact it had on them. On other hand, discourse around Kanye’s bizarre behavior during his divorce from Kim Kardashian and conflict with Davidson has led many to accuse him of acting abusively and call for consequences both for West and for the companies that profit from the publicity his behavior produces.

kanye west divorced dad arc moved so quickly into illegal territory and is firmly there now

— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) March 3, 2022

me when coodie and kanye grew apart #JeenYuhs pic.twitter.com/JOy5qxb3G4

— +🦅 (@1n06h) March 2, 2022

Watching Kanye and Donda rap to Hey Mama? #JeenYuhs pic.twitter.com/XOzck4OqpT

— Nay (@naynay_luv_) March 2, 2022

after watching #JeenYuhs act 3 this tweet makes so much sense now pic.twitter.com/9ZTHm2FHKh

— nnitro 🌺 (@nnitro_) March 2, 2022

The public has lived with Kanye under the limelight for two decades now, and his personal life has become at least as much a part of his brand as his music. Kanye has been the subject of much armchair psychologizing, with users attributing his recent behavior to traumas like the loss of his mother, Donda.

Guys watching this made me realise there’s a pattern with Kanye! I think the divorce with Kim is mad triggering because a major female figure is out of his life again since his mum. I don’t agree with what he is doing but there’s a cycle going on?!? Or am I bugging 😅 #JeenYuhs

— Mimi The Music Blogger (@mdaixo) March 2, 2022

D.L Hughley got the best take on this Kanye West, Kim K, and Pete Davidson situation. pic.twitter.com/SRmUVlxJrt

— L.anaïs🧚🏼‍♀️ (@LanaisLi) March 3, 2022

The controversies that Kanye seems to purposefully involve himself in, and which users online attentively follow, turn the man into a kind of meme. He is remixed and repurposed everywhere. More ink has been spilled about Kanye than has been spilled about many world leaders. For some, his omnipresence at the center of online culture has become a joke in and of itself.

Kanye West's career transition from declaring his own Godhood to solely focusing on his identity as a Psycho-Ex reflects the subconscious crafting of his persona to reflect that of a Roman Emperor, in this essay I will… pic.twitter.com/nneIv6i3Qm

— El infame Sergacabra (@TheeFantomas) March 3, 2022

Others point out how Kanye’s courting of controversy and constant publicity stunts might have a strategic aspect to them, lining up with major release dates for his work.

People think Kanye is crazy (and he may well be) but he knows how to get people talking about his work – every. single. time. https://t.co/clnukra5Ps

— Dan Bull (@itsDanBull) March 3, 2022

As long as Kanye remains online, he will likely generate more controversy and more memes — and the world will continue to watch him. His purported mental health problems and his family life, which he has made a part of the public domain, will continue to inform the way the culture thinks about abuse, mental illness and celebrity.

The whole sick thing about the Kanye, Kim and Pete Davidson thing is that the world is watching a woman publicly be abused and finds it funny or normal…

— Chloe Reubens (@ChloeReubens) March 3, 2022