Kanye West pulled off a controversial and costly stunt during Super Bowl Sunday, securing a 30-second TV ad despite his recent antisemitic remarks—including a shocking declaration, “I’m a Nazi.”
How Kanye’s Ad Slipped Through FOX’s Approval Process
Sources close to the situation tell TMZ that FOX approved the ad on Friday, allowing it to air in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. The approval process, however, was reportedly based solely on the ad’s content and the website it promoted, yeezy.com.
The ad itself—a simple video of Kanye sitting in a dental chair, mumbling “Umm” repeatedly while showing off his new grill—was deemed harmless. Similarly, at the time of approval, Yeezy’s website displayed standard athletic and athleisure gear, with no offensive imagery or content.
Ye’s Website Switch and the $8 Million Purchase
At some point on Super Bowl Sunday, however, Kanye drastically altered his website, reducing its offerings to a single item—a white T-shirt featuring a large swastika on the chest.
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Despite Kanye’s recent hate-filled rants on social media, FOX’s approval process did not take his public statements into account. The $8 million ad buy was facilitated through a third-party advertising agency, which typically vets clients before pitching them to networks.
Backlash Over Kanye’s Actions
Given his high-profile antisemitic rhetoric over the past year, critics are questioning how such an ad was approved and aired during the biggest televised event of the year.
With Kanye’s actions drawing intense backlash, the fallout from this Super Bowl ad is only beginning, raising serious concerns about platforming controversial figures in mainstream media.
