Portnoy, a polarizing, outspoken figure known for his direct-speaking style, did just that with a scorched-earth rant against West, who he labeled a "piece of s##t," and a more general evisceration of the rapper amid his latest episode in a long line of controversy.
“Kanye is a p############. Kanye is a bonafide p############," Portnoy said, his voice dripping with incredulity. "I don't understand people who defend him."
It's not the first time West has been at the center of the public's rage, but this time, the heat feels more intense, the blowback more apparent, and Portnoy's criticism hits like a ton of bricks. His anger results from more than just West's antics but what he perceives as an unforgivable pattern of antisemitism, public disrespect, and behavior that would have killed West's career a long time ago.
"I believe Kanye has one of the greatest free passes of all time," said Portnoy. "Now I'm Jewish; he hates Jews and Loves Hitler. So you're just not going to be my cup of tea. I mean, if you're going around me going, 'I like what Hitler did,' you know, it's, like, well, I don't like you.
Kanye's latest tune, "Heil Hitler," was released on May 8, which, incidentally enough, is Victory in Europe Day. The song's lyrics were openly pro-Nazi and also featured a sample of a 1935 Hitler speech. Not long before the internet started foaming, streaming services quickly yanked the track. The response was swift and furious, leading to the cancellation of West's May 31 concert in South Korea.
For Portnoy, the red flags have been blaring since day one, the infamous 2009 MTV VMA moment when West stormed the stage and snatched the mic from 17-year-old Taylor Swift.
"What he did at the Grammys the first time when he took her award," Portnoy said. "This is a 17-year-old girl. I don't know what his deal is… You're stealing it. Why? You don't even have an issue with her."
Portnoy also seized on the doctored phone call West and Kim Kardashian shared to substantiate the lyrics of his 2016 track "Famous," which once again implicated Swift in a media frenzy.
Organizers Interpark Global and Coupang have announced that those who have already bought tickets will be fully reimbursed following the concert in Seoul's cancellation. The company also removed all Yeezy products from its online stores.
Portnoy believes the world at large should stop making excuses for Kanye. "You can't keep getting away with this just because you make music," he appeared to say between the lines. And for those still on the fence, Portnoy's takedown may be the push they need to get off it.
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