Kanye West Accuses Issa Rae Of Holding Black People Back Following Saturday Night Live Performance, Says Actress Was Used By SNL

“Get the West Wing ready!” Kanye West is going to be your president if he can get his way.  The controversial rapper has been going all out ever since his announcement of running in the 2020 presidential race in July, amidst hefty criticism and division between supporters and non-supporters.  From his campaign rally held in South Carolina, where he made wild claims pertaining to his wife and daughter, as well as Harriet Tubman, to his recent presidential campaign ad released just days before the election, the “Power” rapper is stopping at nothing.

“America. What is America’s destiny? What is best for our nation? Our people? What is just? True justice?” West utters in his presidential campaign ad.  The G.O.O.D. Music label head is pressing on as he emphasizes the importance of religion, while even persuading listeners to write his name in the ballot.

Standing in front of a black and white American flag in the background, he continues, “We as a people will revive our nation’s commitment to faith, to what our constitution calls the free exercise of religion, including, of course, prayer. Through prayer, faith can be restored.”  Photos of West in his younger years flash within the clip as he speaks.  “By turning to faith, we will be the kind of nation, the kind of people God intends us to be,” West concludes.  “I am Kanye West and I approve this message.”  

The rapper, also a recent winner of four Billboard Music Awards, released a new song recently called Nah Nah Nah as a reaction to the news that showed him in Kentucky’s state elections polling in third place, ahead of Joe Biden and Donald Trump.  However, Kentucky’s Lex 18 News later announced that the numbers were not real results and were “simply part of a test.”  Lyrics included in the song celebrated his presidential candidacy, saying “Next time you text, can it wait? / You are talkin’ to a presidential candidate”. It also touched on his faith, with the lyrics “I don’t need to strike back, I let God fight my battles.”

THE WHOLE TEAM IS SO ENERGIZED THAT I HAD TO RELEASE THEME MUSIC NAH NAH NAH pic.twitter.com/p3NhTV11cN

— ye (@kanyewest) October 14, 2020

The “Wash Us In The Blood” rapper may be picking his battles a bit differently, however, as he shot back at Issa Rae for a skit she took place in on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, where she also performed hosting duties.  In a sketch, the Insecure star made a joke at his expense when she played an NAACP lawyer that was being interviewed by Kenan Thompson on “Your Voice Chicago”.  

Thompson asked the actress about the election, to which she responded that she would be “voting for everybody Black”.  Back in 2017 during her acceptance speech at that year’s Emmy Awards, she famously stated that she would be “rooting for everybody Black”, a phrase that has since gone viral.  

Keenan Thompson’s character then attempts to clarify to Rae’s character that the race was “between Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Kanye West”, to which she simply replies, “Kanye? F him!”

After viewing the clip, West took to Twitter to address Rae and the show.  “I’ve always said SNL uses black people to hold other black people back,” the rapper tweeted. “My heart goes out to Issa Rae. I’m praying for her and her family.  I know that the twenty years of service that I’ve paid in the entertainment field has furthered our ability to be more successful.”

Ive always said SNL uses black people to hold other black people back My heart goes out to Issa Rae I’m praying for her and her family I know that the twenty years of service that I’ve paid in the entertainment field has furthered our ability to be more successful pic.twitter.com/kExwUVVsqv

— ye (@kanyewest) October 18, 2020

West has had a history with the show, becoming the butt of their jokes oftentimes, leading him to criticize the show once on his song “Power” where he rapped, “F— ‘SNL’ and the whole cast / Tell ’em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole a**.”  Fans also took to social media to remind him of his controversial appearance on the show.  “Who were you holding back here, while hosting SNL?” questioned a user alongside a picture of him performing on the SNL stage with a MAGA hat.  

Who were you holding back here, while hosting SNL? pic.twitter.com/Lj4Cii3cZM

— JeremyNewberger (@jeremynewberger) October 18, 2020