Kanye West has vehemently denied being gay after sparking controversy by revealing he had a sexual relationship with a male cousin during his childhood.
The 47-year-old rapper, known for his provocative statements, stunned fans this week with an explosive confession about an incestuous past. In a series of now-deleted tweets, West shared details about his upcoming song Cousins, which references an intimate encounter with a cousin who is currently serving a life sentence for murder.
“This track, Cousins, is about my cousin in prison for killing a pregnant woman—years after we stopped our inappropriate childhood interactions,” Kanye wrote. He then disclosed that their sexual relationship lasted until he was 14.
Clarifying His Sexuality
Amid the backlash, West took to X (formerly Twitter) again, this time mocking speculation about his sexual orientation. He posted a rainbow emoji—often tied to LGBTQ+ pride—with the caption, “This my new logo π.”
In follow-up tweets, he sarcastically addressed the rumors:
“Gay folks would be the most upset if people thought I was gay.”
“I’m tryna use ‘gay privilege’ without paying ‘gay dues’… but nah, I’m not gay.”
The Flashing Lights artist continued with a bizarre, self-deprecating joke:
“Internet says straight men don’t make gay jokes. So if I joke about it, does that make me gay? Nah, but sucking your cousin’s d--- might. LOL, but I’m not into men…”
The Disturbing Confession
West’s initial tweets described how he and his cousin engaged in sexual acts after finding explicit magazines in his late mother Donda West’s closet—whom he recently alleged was a lesbian.
“My name is Ye, and I gave my cousin oral sex till I was 14. Tweet sent,” he wrote bluntly.
The song’s lyrics echo his claims:
“Hanging with my cousin, flipping through dirty mags… / Saw men kissing, didn’t get it—so we mimicked what we saw. / That’s how I ended up giving him head.”
West repeats the line before admitting he swore his cousin to secrecy:
“Folks say ‘take it to your grave,’ but the truth sets you free. / They don’t get it—I’m not into men.”
The accompanying music video features unsettling imagery, including home videos, gun violence, semi-pornographic content, and a burning cross.
Past References to the Cousin
Both Kanye and ex-wife Kim Kardashian have mentioned this cousin before. In a 2018 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, West said, “My cousin’s in prison for murder. I still love him—he messed up, but he’s family.”
Kim also referenced the incarcerated relative during a 2020 justice reform discussion, noting, “Kanye’s cousin got a double life sentence for a crime he committed at 17.”
