Kanye West' YEEZY store shut down for a while; came back with slashed prices - here's why
YEEZY drew renewed attention after a controversial 30-second ad aired in select local TV markets during the Super Bowl. Filmed by West on his phone in a dentist's office, the ad simply directed viewers to visit the store's website. Shopify allowed the sale to continue for over a day before removing the offensive merchandise.
This delay prompted backlash from advocacy groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which condemned the use of the swastika due to its deep associations with Nazi Germany, anti-Semitism, and white supremacist ideologies.
Also Read: Pro-Palestinians programmed, voted against Trump: Watch Kanye West's rant
Kanye West's store returns with reduced prices
The YEEZY store controversy coincided with the rapper's antisemitic, homophobic, and misogynistic rants on X, where he has over 32 million followers. While his posts were limited by X, 33& West, which is a talent agency based in Los Angeles, cut ties with him following West's rants and Swastika merchandise.
However, the YEEZY store has made a return with a new line of products and reduced prices. Currently, customers can find items like YEEZY Slides for $20, and other clothes, with the most expensive item going for $100. This shows a stark contrast for the store, as West's products were earlier priced way more than the current price list, as reported by PRIMETIMER.
The relaunch of the store with slashed prices comes after a very controversial period for the rapper and his being dropped from several partnerships across music, fashion, and business. In 2022, major talent agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency) dropped West after he allegedly made a series of antisemitic comments.
The return of the store signals a more restrained comeback, offering a limited selection of products at noticeably reduced prices. This scaled-back approach comes amid severe public scrutiny.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
33 minutes ago
- Mint
iPhone 17 could cost more this year as Apple leans on 256GB bases to justify the change
iPhone prices inch upward every few years and the signs point to another nudge with the iPhone 17. The chatter is not about shock value. It is about how Apple frames the move so buyers feel they are getting fair value on day one. Storage is the simplest lever. More room out of the box makes sense for people who shoot 4K video, keep long playlists, and record life without thinking about space. Analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities, cited in wider coverage, expects the iPhone 17 lineup to cost more than the iPhone 16 range. Exact figures are not public, so treat any numbers you see as placeholders until launch. Apple has used a clear playbook before. When iPhone 15 Pro Max moved from 128GB to 256GB at the base, the price narrative shifted with it. The phone felt ready for heavy use on day one, and the increase looked easier to accept. If Apple repeats that logic, the iPhone 17 Pro models could start at 256GB as standard. That creates a tidy tiering story. Pro gets more storage upfront. Non Pro keeps a lower entry for reach. Trade in values and carrier plans do the rest at checkout. For many buyers who upgrade every two or three years, storage is the pain point they remember. Running out of space before an update is more annoying than paying a little extra at purchase. Component costs move with each cycle as camera hardware, displays, and connectivity improve. Currency swings push regional prices around even when US tags look steady. Supply chain shifts add friction. Instead of cutting corners, Apple can adjust storage and lean on longevity. If the phone runs cooler, lasts longer on battery, and keeps performance steady for four or five years, that is value you feel across the ownership cycle. Expect Apple to protect a sensible entry point for the mainstream model, while lifting value on the Pro side. A base of 256GB on Pro and Pro Max sets a clean message for creators and power users. Clear storage steps on the non Pro models keep choice simple. The details matter more than a single headline figure. Watch the base storage, the regional price cards, and how trade ins are framed. That is where the real story shows up. Most people want a phone that does not nag about space, survives a heavy day, and shoots solid video at night. If Apple hits those notes and tidies the storage tiers, a modest increase becomes easier to live with. You pay once. You stop worrying about space every few months. That is a calm kind of upgrade.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
India's multilateral options against US' tariff bullying
We are still digesting the United States' punitive 25% tariff slapped on India for continuing to purchase Russian crude oil. The new, additional tariff takes the impost to a ridiculous 50%. The timing and ferocity of the second tranche of punitive tariffs has taken the government and its pundits by surprise. But, equally, the government's push back to what it has dubbed 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable', has been startlingly strong. A Reuters report on Friday said New Delhi has put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft; and Defense minister Rajnath Singh, who was to go to Washington to make these announcements on weapons purchase, has put off his trip. There is also no indication that Indian oil companies have been asked to go slow on Russian oil purchases. This has effectively aborted the ongoing US-India trade negotiations. President Donald Trump has indicated on Thursday he is not interested in reopening talks. This has dashed hopes that there could be an interim deal before the punitive tariffs kick in on 27 August. How does India deal with what could be a catastrophic situation? Is there a way out? A painful cut The Indian economy is inextricably linked to the US markets. The U.S. is India's largest trading partner to whom we export $87 billion of goods. The U.S. accounts for 20% of our exports, and contributes about 2.2% to our gross domestic product (GDP). An additional 25% tariff could cut GDP by 0.2–0.4%, risking growth slipping below 6% this year. For large swathes of the industry, it is curtains. Effectively, we are facing a US trade embargo. The gems and jewelry industry, which exports 45% of its polished gems and other products to the U.S., has suspended further shipments. The textile and apparels industry too has stopped exports having been edged out by Bangladesh and Vietnam, who face a much lower tariff of 20%. The tragedy is most of these export units are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which are highly labour intensive. The new tariff regime will shut lakhs of small units and throw millions out of work. Diamond polishing hubs like Surat and Bhiwandi have already turning into ghost towns. The deal breaker seems to be US' insistence on access to India's agricultural and dairy markets. And they want to flood us with genetically modified corn and wheat. It is a red line the Modi government has refused to cross fearing massive farmer backlash. And Trump has decided India needs to be made an example of. He wants to send a message to the rest of the world. India is in a spot. How does it meet this new round of US bullying? As noted earlier, the government has registered its discontent by suspending its purchases of U.S. armaments. However, there are indications that India's foreign policy might see a more permanent shift away from the 'soft' middle-of-the-road line with a pro-US tilt. Prime Minister Modi is now hoping to heal relations with President Xi Jinping and has scheduled a visit to Tianjin, China, to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit at the end to August. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has simultaneously made an 'air dash' to Moscow and is working on a Vladimir Putin visit to New Delhi is in the near future. It is also significant that South Block chose to widely publicize Prime Minister Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva long, one-hour phone talk on 'developing multilateralism' and how to deal with the 50% tariff both countries face. Alternative partners There are a few other steps India can take to return fire like imposing retaliatory tariffs on US goods entering India. However, in the long-term it is 'multilateralism' and building alternative trade partnerships that India must now pursue. Over time, India has given up its leadership position in the region and the developing world region. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is in tatters. We have friction with all our local neighbours -- Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and even the Maldives. On the international stage, India has taken an ambivalent stand on significant issues like the Ukraine war and the Gaza conflict. This has considerably dented our standing and credibility in the comity of nations. This is a far cry from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) founded at the Bandung Conference in 1955. Seeking to unite the newly independent, developing countries as a 'third force' in a bi-polar world, Jawaharlal Nehru, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and Marshal Josip Tito of Yugoslavia and others advocated economic cooperation among the Global South to beat the domination of the Super Powers. Perhaps it is high time that the NAM spirit is revived. The BRICS alliance is one such counter magnet that can take on US' domination. It originally comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, but now includes many others. Its objects are to create a more multi-polar, inclusive global order through economic cooperation. It is no wonder Donald Trump has been singling out BRICs for attack, especially its initiative to create an alternative currency to the dollar. At its recent convention in Brazil, the US president threatened the alliance with 10% enhanced tariffs if the group did not disband. The future thus lies not in disbandment but in vigorous revival and generation of a bloc that will rival the U.S. - dominated world order. India is currently negotiating free trade agreements (FTA) with 6 countries including the US. An important one which is pending is with the Association of South East Nations (ASEAN). Another infrastructure alliance under Chinese leadership that can be considered is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This does not mean we should not pursue negotiations with the US for a fair trade deal. Whether it will happen will depend on how much the US and India are willing to dilute their positions. Meanwhile, the creation of multilateral economic partnerships as an alternative to U.S. domination must be seen not as short-term posturing but a long term foreign policy.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Airtel's Free AI Offer With Perplexity Faces Downgrade Charges: What The Company Said
Last Updated: Airtel AI offer promises features worth Rs 17,000 from the Perplexity Pro version but it seems people are not sure if they get it Perplexity AI offer in India with Airtel plan has faced new charges which accuse the company of delivering Pro-Lite version of its premium plan to these subscribers. The Airtel AI offer is claimed to bring features worth Rs 17,000 with its one year plan but a recent post on Reddit said the performance of the supposed free AI offer was less than satisfactory. These charges clearly did not go down well with Perplexity who has reportedly denied these claims and promises that the free AI offer comes with all the premium features. Perplexity AI Airtel Offer: What The Company Said Jesse Dwyer from the company was quoted saying this in a report, 'It is absolutely false that Airtel customers get a different version of Perplexity Pro than our Pro subscribers. India is very dear to us as a company and we would hope to correct this misunderstanding for Indian readers." The quote in the Financial Express also cited concerns like misinformation about the company and how people are supposedly using it for their own engagement. The statement was more or less warranted after the post said the free AI offer for Airtel users did not deliver on the full Perplexity AI package. The post claimed the Perplexity Pro version linked to Airtel numbers were slow, not citing sources and the answers were less than impressive. Perplexity Pro is a premium AI tier like ChatGPT Plus and Gemini AI Pro, offering a host of features and access to AI models like Claude and others. Airtel Perplexity Pro Offer: Features Worth Rs 17,000 For Free The Perplexity Pro offer is claimed to give you features worth Rs 17,000 for free, these are: Airtel says the offer can be redeemed only between July 17, 2025 and January 17, 2026 after which the free deal will not be available to its customers. Existing Perplexity Pro subscribers can also avail this offer. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
