What is Death Con 3? Meaning of the term explained as Kanye West anti-Semitic tweet sparks widespread backlash 

Kanye West slammed for antisemitic tweet (Image via Fox News)
Kanye West slammed for antisemitic tweet (Image via Fox News)

Kanye West recently faced action from Twitter for going on an anti-Semitic rant on the social media platform. Not only was the Flashing Lights singer removed from the app, his Instagram account was also restricted on Friday, after he made similar hate remarks there.

In a tweet which has now been removed from the platform, Kanye “Ye” West wrote:

“I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE.”

The rapper went on to defend his anti-Semitic tweet by claiming that he can't be against Jews because he is black.

“I actualy can't be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyes with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda."

By writing “death con 3” in his tweet, the Famous singer was apparently referring to the military term “defcon.” There are five levels that indicate the intensity of a national security threat, with 5 being the lowest and 1 the highest.

West's tweet, therefore, suggests that he was either preparing himself for some kind of threat from Jewish people, or that he was himself going to inflict some kind of violence on them.


Twitter condemns Kanye West's comments

After the 45-year-old musician tweeted his anti-Semitic statement, netizens were quick to express outrage. Many could not believe that the singer was attacking an ethnic group on his social media platform, which has a reach of over 30 million followers.

Others also noted that his actions couldn't be defended on the pretext that he suffers from the condition of bipolar disorder. Several Twitter users wrote that those suffering from mental health issues do not make anti-Semitic and racist statements on social media.


Kanye West's Instagram handle gets restricted too

The Donda rapper was suspended from Instagram on Friday after making similar anti-Jewish remarks on the social media platform. He shared a now deleted iMessage exchange in which he accused rapper Diddy aka Sean Love Combs of being controlled by Jews.

Despite Diddy telling West to “stop playing these internet games,” Kanye West responded by saying that it was not a game.

“Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influencer me.”

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Along with being suspended from social media platforms for his anti-Semitic tweets, Kanye West was also reprimanded for his Tucker Carlson interview, which he did on Friday. During that interview the rapper questioned the motives of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, who brokered the Abraham Accords.

West claimed that Kushner, who is also Jewish, brokered the declaration between Israel and other Middle East countries “to make money.”

After West's interview went viral, the American Jewish Committee posted a video on Instagram that accused the rapper of using “antisemitic tropes like greed and control.”

In the caption, the committee wrote that Kanye West was making:

“Incoherent rants laden with racist and antisemitic undertones made on the country’s top cable news program.”

Earlier this week, the Yeezy-designer received immense flak for donning a T-shirt which read "White Lives Matter" during his YZYSZN 9 fashion show speech at Paris Fashion Week this year.

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Edited by Karishma Rao