Neo-Nazis In Australia React To Australian Government's Attempt To Bar Antisemitic Rapper Ye From Entering Country; Celebrate His Comments Praising Hitler, Which Energized Extremists In Australia And Have Been Used By Neo-Nazis To Propagandize

In November and December 2022, American rapper Kanye "Ye" West made multiple antisemitic comments specifically targeting Jews, threatening violence, and promulgating conspiracy theories. In the months that followed, the Australian government moved to deny Ye's future entry into the country, citing his antisemitic comments as the reason for the move. Australian Minister for Education Jason Clare noted that visas have been denied for similar reasons in the past, and that Ye's case would be carefully reviewed should he apply for an entry visa.[1]

The responses within Australian neo-Nazi circles to West's comments vary considerably and can broadly be categorized as approving or disapproving of Ye. Australian neo-Nazis who expressed agreement with West exhibited a willingness to repeat, expand, and defend West's antisemitic comments and sentiments. Those who disapproved of West's statements did not object to the content of his remarks, but rather sought to delegitimize West by accusing him of being "controlled opposition."

Some Australian neo-Nazis have been especially vocal in defense of West and support for his antisemitic comments. Conversely, others promoted the conspiracy theory postulating that Ye is part of controlled opposition.

This report has collated assorted online reactions by figures within Australian neo-Nazi circles to Ye's antisemitic remarks. The responses have been categorized according to whether they approve or disapprove of Ye's comments and sentiments. This report also contains reactions by Australian neo-Nazis to West's planned visit to Melbourne, Australia, in February 2023, and Clare's suggestion that his entry might be denied.

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Australian Neo-Nazis Celebrate And Praise Ye's Antisemitism

An Australian neo-Nazi posted a screenshot of a Twitter poll conducted by a news outlet asking whether "Kanye West's recent antisemitic remarks are: regrettable, crazy, true, or unforgiveable." The response "true" received 88% according to the screenshot. The neo-Nazi wrote, "Daily reminder that Jews control media, finance and government."

A neo-Nazi posted a screenshot on his Telegram channel on December 1 of a Breitbart article titled "Kanye West praises Hitler on Alex Jones Show: 'We gotta stop dissing the Nazis all the time.'" The user captioned the post with: "Ye is right!"

On Telegram, a neo-Nazi posted an artistic rendition of West on December 2 showing West posing in front of a modified flag of Nazi Germany with the letters "YE" replacing the swastika. The user wrote: "Ye has literally done more to improve White and Black race relations than literally any Jew throughout history or the present day!"

Reactions to Kanye West's Planned Visit to Australia

On the week of January 23, 2023, unconfirmed reports began to circulate that Kanye West was planning to visit Australia in February. West's current partner, Bianca Censori, is Australian and the purpose of the visit is understood to be meeting her family.

Australian civil society organizations have voiced concerns over West's visit, noting that West made multiple antisemitic remarks on social media, as well as during livestreams and podcasts in late 2022, that not only denied the Holocaust, but glorified Adolf Hitler and Nazis.

Civil society organizations that have pushed back against West's visit include the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which has written to the Minister of Immigration to request that West's visa application be denied. The Australian Jewish Association and the Anti-Defamation Commission have also written to the Minister of Immigration and published several op-eds in newspapers to raise awareness of the issue.

Australian politicians including Minister for Education Jason Clare and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have also publicly stated their concerns over West's visit due to his history of promoting antisemitism.

Within the Australian neo-Nazi movement, reactions have mainly centred around condemning Australian civil society organizations for trying to pressure the government to block West's visa application, in addition to voicing support for West's antisemitic attitudes.

Below is a compilation of recent posts by Australian neo-Nazis in relation to West's planned visit and efforts to prevent him from receiving a visa to enter Australia.

An Australian neo-Nazi posted an image on his Telegram channel on January 21, showing a screenshot of a tweet by chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr. Dvir Abramovich. The original tweet was accompanied by the following text: "OUR Choice for ANTISEMITE of the YEAR" and included a photo of Kanye West with the words, "Antisemite of the year." A Telegram group chat, a user forwarded the image on January 22 and wrote: "Congratulations, based ni**er. I will add this fellow to my list of Okayish ni**ers: Morgan Freeman, Kanye West."

In a neo-Nazi group chat, a user posted a photo on January 22 of a TV screen with a news segment showing West sitting on a chair, and a banner reading: "Ye' down under. Kanye West to visit Melbourne with Australian wife." The user wrote, "Our Lord and saviour coming to Australia."

An Australian neo-Nazi posted a screenshot on his Telegram channel on January 24 showing a news article titled "Peter Dutton [Opposition Leader] calls to block Kanye West from coming to Australia." The user wrote: "Peter Buttgoy, the leader of Australian conservatism, sucking up to the Jews," and included a link to the article.

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