Madame Tussauds has had a waxwork of Kanye West since 2015, and thousands of fans have taken selfies next to the rapper’s likeness.
Just two years ago, “Ye” was married to Kim Kardashian, was worth £1.7billion and made a bid for the US Presidency.
Yesterday Tussauds removed his likeness, as it joined a long list of businesses to cut ties with West after a series of racist and anti-Semitic rants.
It was suggested they are a sign of mental illness.
Ye is thought to have become increasingly erratic since his mother Donda died in 2007.
In 2018 he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but West this week claimed there was a conspiracy to medicate him.
Now his fashion empire is crumbling.
Adidas dropped him after nine years after he bragged: “I can say anti-Semitic sh**, and Adidas cannot drop me.”
Fashion house Balenciaga cut ties, while Gap and Foot Locker took his Yeezy trainers off sale. West, 45, is now said to be worth just £344million, some of which comes from his 5% stake in ex Kim’s Skims fashion brand.
But she too has condemned him, saying: “Hate speech is never OK.”
His bank JP Morgan Chase has told West to move his cash elsewhere. His talent agency CAA and lawyer have also ditched him. American Vogue said: “Neither the magazine nor editor-in-chief Anna Wintour intend to work with Kanye West again.”
Film studio MRC has shelved a documentary on West, while the rapper’s stadium tour is axed.
His global music sales are down 17.5% and there are calls to take his songs off Spotify.
West was banned from Instagram and Twitter after posting a text exchange accusing fellow rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs of being controlled by Jewish people.
West is now said to be buying social network Parler, which has alt-right links.
He has long courted controversy. In 2018 he claimed 400 years of slavery sounded like a “choice”, released a music video showing Kim’s then-boyfriend being attacked, and backed divisive ex-US President Donald Trump.
Just 11 months ago he claimed to be “above” cancellation.
But West has reaped what he has sown after his odd behaviour escalated in the past three weeks.
First, he wore a “white lives matter” shirt. He then said George Floyd, murdered by a US policeman in 2020, died of an overdose. A racist group hung a banner over an LA freeway reading “Kanye is right”.
Even his former pal Trump reportedly said West needs professional help. When he says that about you, you know you’ve gone too far.
Ye needs help as he sets legacy on fire
By Polly Hudson
"It's unbelievable – not to mention unbelievably sad – that there doesn’t seem to be anyone in Kanye West’s life who can put their foot down, and force him to face facts. He needs help. Now.
"He is clearly unravelling, has offended millions with his online hate speech and is now not only losing money by sabotaging profitable business ventures, but is also slowly and surely destroying his reputation and legacy as a music superstar.
"Everything he’s worked for is slipping through his fingers. His life is now in a state of emergency. But the first step in fixing any problem is accepting that there is one, of course.
"And as much as he’s been open and honest about his mental health struggles in the past, Kanye apparently doesn’t see the gravity of his current situation.
"Someone needs to help him to help himself – urgently – or this story seems in danger of having a very unhappy ending."
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.
