Kanye West is responding to the criticism surrounding his “Eazy” video.
On Sunday, the rapper shared a message in defense of the disturbing visual featuring The Game in which he kidnaps and buries a claymation version of Pete Davidson. According to Ye, his “art” has healing powers and is protected by his First Amendment rights.
“Art is therapy just like this view. Art is protected as freedom of speech,” he wrote on Instagram. “Art inspires and simplifies the world. Art is not a proxy for any ill or harm.”
He also shut down the notion that he intended to cause harm with his violent portrayal of Kim Kardasian’s boyfriend. “Any suggestion otherwise about my art is false and mal intended,” he added.
Ye depicts Davidson’s murder in the “Eazy” video, which ends with a message: “Everyone lived happily ever after. Except Skete.” He also threatens to “beat Pete Davidson’s ass” in the lyrics.
While Ye has received backlash on social media, Davidson is seemingly not concerned. In fact, he apparently finds humor in Ye’s latest jab.
“He finds the fact that Kanye included a cartoon version of him in his music video hysterical,” a source tells “Entertainment Tonight.” “He is almost flattered by it all because it is so ridiculous to him.”
The source adds that Ye “is not threatened by Kanye in any way, shape or form.”
Ye’s ongoing attacks have reportedly brought Pete and Kim closer together. “He’s using this to grow in more ways than one, including for himself and his relationship with Kim,” the source continued. “He is turning all of the negativity into a positive thing.”