American rapper Kanye West, now gone by Ye, has made an offer to buy Parler, a social media platform popular with U.S. conservatives, parent Parlement Technologies said on Monday.
Nashville-based Parler, which has raised about $56 million to date, said it expects the deal to close in the fourth quarter of 2022 without giving any deal value. Kanye West buys social media app Parler
The deal comes as Parler, which launched in 2018 and has modeled itself as a free speech space for those looking for alternatives to platforms like Twitter Inc, has been reinstated on Google’s app stores and Apple Inc after being removed after the January 2021 US uprising.
In recent weeks, fashion designer Ye has ended its partnership with apparel retailer Gap Inc (GAP.N), while German sporting goods maker Adidas (Ad.N) has teamed up with rapper under the hood. consideration.
The rapper also had issues with major social media platforms, which were repeatedly restricted.
Most recently, West was barred from using his Instagram by Facebook’s Meta Platforms (Facebook.O) for posts that online users denounced as anti-Semitic. He then moved to Twitter, posting for the first time in two years.
“In a world where conservative opinions are controversial, We have to make sure we have the right to express ourselves freely,” Ye said in a statement.
Ye appeared to join Parler on Monday and had about 91 followers at the time of the announcement.
This American rapper has announced in 2020 that he will be running for president of the United States. Among the obvious challenges to former US President Donald Trump, but later withdrew.
Parler has also gained traction from Trump supporters.
Last month Parler formed a new parent company, Parlement Technologies Inc, as part of an overhaul.
