Kanye West to acquire ‘free speech platform’ Parler 

Parler, a social media app styling itself as a free speech alternative to Twitter, announced today that it has entered into an agreement in principle to sell the app to Kanye West, the musician now known as Ye. 

“In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” said Ye in a press release. 

The deal is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2022. 

Parler’s parent company Parlement Technologies said the acquisition will assure Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome. 

 “This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech. Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again. Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative. Parlement will be honored to help him achieve his goals,” said Parlement Technologies CEO George Farmer.

In January 2021, Apple, Google and Amazon banned Parler after the accusations that it was used to promote violence before and during the US Capitol riot and failed to remove posts that promoted violence. The social media app was reinstated on both app stores after it agreed to moderate posts more closely, and the website also appeared online again in February 2021.

The acquisition news comes a week after Ye’s Twitter and Instagram accounts locked for antisemitic tweet. “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” Ye wrote in a tweet on October 8th. “The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also.”

UPDATE (18.10.2022) – Ye said he decided to acquire Parler when Instagram and Twitter penalized him: Bloomberg

“When I got kicked off of Instagram and Twitter at the time, I knew it was time to acquire my own platform,” Ye said in an interview with Bloomberg News on Monday. He said Parler is for people like him, who have been penalized by much bigger platforms.

“We’re using this as a net for the people who have been bullied by the thought police to come and speak their mind,” he said. “Express how you feel. Express what’s tied up inside of you. Express what’s been haunting you. I use social media as my therapist.”