Chance the Rapper responded to Kanye West’s return to Twitter—and subsequent political firestorm—with a series of screenshots, including one that described the fellow artist as his “brother in Christ.”
“We have to talk honestly about what is happening and has been happening in this country and we have to challenge those who are responsible, as well as those who are giving them a pass,” Chance posted to Twitter. Charisma News will not link to the tweets, as they contain profanity.
“If that happens to include someone I love, someone who is my brother-in-Christ and someone who I believe does really want to do what is right, it’s not my job to defend or protect him. It’s my job to pick up the phone and talk to him,” Chance writes.
West returned to Twitter after a yearlong hiatus with lots of tweets supporting U.S. President Donald Trump.
The move shocked much of Hollywood, including John Legend. The singer, who played Jesus in Jesus Christ, Superstar LIVE! reportedly texted West, asking him to reconsider his alignment with Trump.
Here are some of West’s tweets:
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
I really appreciate this dialogue with John Legend because I’m actually very empathetic. Im still the kid from the telethon. I feel when people think of MAGA they don’t think of empathy.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
This is year one. We can’t ad empathy to MAGA by hating. We can only ad empathy with love and time and truly hearing all sides
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
my friend said he texted all his friends this morning and said I love you
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
the concept of loving people has a stigma
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
try telling people you love them it actually feels weird at first. We’re really good at hating each other. We have to get good at loving each other.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
Trump labeled West’s social media support as a “great service” to the black community.
Pentecostal pastor Darrell Scott also chimed in on West’s political tweets with an interview on Friday’s Fox and Friends.
“Kanye West is his own man, and he has a long relationship with the president,” the founder and pastor of New Spirit Revival Center says.
“I really don’t think that when he engaged … it would create this backlash and he would receive this criticism. But he’s a man, and he’s not going to back down from it,” Scott says.
Though some Christians have labeled West’s music as blasphemous, the musician has been seen frequenting church, including Rich Wilkerson Jr.’s Vous Church in Miami. Wilkerson conducted West’s marriage to Kim Kardashian West.
