Kanye West Explains Those Confederate Flag Concert Shirts

If you haven’t already heard, Kanye West is selling “Yeezus” Tour t-shirts emblazoned with the confederate flag. While we’re not shocked by this controversial move–we’re also not amused.

Nevertheless, we’ve been patiently waiting for the outspoken star to explain why he decided to use the historically racist symbol for his Wes Lang designed concert merch.

That moment came during an interview at Los Angeles’ 97.1 AMP radio station on Monday. The “Blood On The Leaves” rapper shared his thoughts on the backlash he’s getting about the products and his aim to reappropriate the flag.

“React how you want. Any energy you got is good energy. You know the confederate flag represented slavery in a way–that’s my abstract take on what I know about it. So I made the song ‘New Slaves.’ So I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It’s my flag now. Now what are you going to do?”

Well, there’s not much we can do. Kanye isn’t only selling these items at his concerts–the 36-year-old star also just opened a pop-up shop in L.A. filled with his Confederate flag gear.

“I just think people look cool in it. They look nice. And it’s colorless also,” Kanye told Los Angeles 97.1 AMP. “It’s super hood and super white boy approved at the same time. That’s really what my style has always been.”

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