Twitter restores Kanye West’s account after ban for ‘incitement to violence’ over antisemitic messages

Twitter has reinstated Kanye West’s account, around seven months after he was banned from the platform for “incitement to violence” over antisemitic messages.

The rapper – officially called Ye – had his Twitter account suspended in December after one of his posts appeared to show a swastika merged with the Star of David.

He had also praised Hitler and made antisemitic jokes in an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. At the time, new Twitter owner Elon Musk confirmed his Twitter account was “being suspended for incitement to violence”.

But over the weekend he was handed his account back by X – the new name that Mr Musk has imposed on the social network, which he bought last year for $44bn.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Ye will not be allowed to monetise his account, and adverts will not appear next to his post.

It added that the account has been reinstated on the basis that he will not use it to share antisemitic or otherwise harmful language.

The rapper, who claimed in March that the movie 21 Jump Street “made me like Jewish people again”, has not posted on the platform since being allowed back on.

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He was previously locked out of his Twitter and Instagram accounts in October last year after claiming: “I’m going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE”.

In the same month, Adidas cut ties with the rapper, saying it did “not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech“.

Mr Musk – who calls himself a free speech absolutist – welcomed Ye back onto his platform after that incident, but suspended him again in December for “violating our rule against incitement to violence”.

Neither X nor Musk have commented publicly on the move to reinstate Ye.

Mr Musk also reinstated Donald Trump’s account last November after a poll said 51.8 per cent voted in favour.

But the former US president has not resumed posting on Twitter – with an exclusivity contract requiring him to post only on his Truth Social platform.

The city of San Francisco issued a notice of violation over the weekend after a giant “X” sign was installed without permission on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters.

City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that building inspectors have been denied access to inspect the construction.

Residents of the building opposite have complained about the excessive bright light produced by lighting up the sign, which was lit up with a strobe effect.

Christopher Beale told KPIX: “It was like a flash of lightning going off, we came home and tried to watch a movie and it was flashing so bright that even with the shades down, we had to leave the room and go to the side of the apartment that doesn’t face their building.”

Mr Musk on Sunday morning vowed to stay in the city despite the row, which is only the latest in a series of disputes over the Twitter headquarters since he took over.

He said: “Many have offered rich incentives for X (fka Twitter) to move its HQ out of San Francisco. Moreover, the city is in a doom spiral with one company after another left or leaving. Therefore, they expect X will move too.

“We will not. You only know who your real friends are when the chips are down. San Francisco, beautiful San Francisco, though others forsake you, we will always be your friend.”