Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, agreed to buy Parler, a conservative social media app after other platforms suspended him over antisemitic posts.
He is also the son of Michael Farmer, a British Conservative politician who sits in the upper chamber of the U.K. George Farmer was named CEO of the conservative-leaning social app in May of last year, after a dispute between its early investor Rebekah Mercer and ex-Parler chief John Matze led to Matze's ousting. The billionaire, who calls himself a "free speech absolutist," has said he wants to make Twitter a "digital town square" that promotes free expression. "Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative. "The future is uncancelable," the company said at the time. The terms of the deal include technical support for Parler from its parent company, as well as the use of its private cloud services. Farmer is married to American conservative activist Candace Owens, one of Ye's advocates on social media. After Ye's suspension from Instagram, the rapper turned to Twitter, posting for the first time since 2020. Parler is one of several right-wing-friendly platforms to emerge during the Donald Trump era, as the former president's supporters claim unfair treatment by Twitter and other apps. Apple restored the app on its App Store platform earlier, in April 2021. Parler, which initially launched in 2018, was swept up in controversy last year over the role it played in the Jan. There's also Gettr, which is run by former Trump advisor Jason Miller, and Trump's own app, Truth Social, whose parent company is under federal investigation as it seeks to go public.
Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, has entered into an agreement to purchase Parler, a social media site popular with Trump loyalists, the company ...
Parler is competing in a crowded space, with several other conservative-friendly social media sites also attempting to challenge the dominance of Big Tech. "Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative." 6, hundreds of videos of the siege were posted to Parler, which in the leadup to the violence had become a gathering place for far-right activists angry over Trump's election loss. An outspoken critic of cancel culture, Ye frequently denounces what he sees as to the over-policing of free speech in society. It did not disclose how much Ye has agreed to purchase the social media site for, nor were any other terms of the deal revealed. But Parler officials said the deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
The agreement in principle to buy the social media service comes days after Twitter and Instagram restricted the rapper's account for violating its terms.
Over the weekend, the rap YouTube series Drink Champs released a new episode featuring Ye in which he repeated several antisemitic conspiracy theories and questioned the cause of the death of George Floyd, the Black man who was murdered in 2020 by a police officer in Minneapolis. 1, as [millions of Trump supporters](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/technology/parler-rumble-newsmax.html), critical of what they deemed censorship on Facebook and Twitter, signed up. But despite the services’ limited reach, Pew found that most of the people who do frequent such places for news said they found like-minded company there. [Data.ai](http://data.ai/), a platform that provides consumer and market data. From its start in 2018, Parler, which is based is Nashville, has railed against censorship and has presented itself as a “free speech” social network, with less stringent content rules than sites such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. Trump, the service’s parent company, Parlement Technologies, said in a news release on Monday.
Kanye West is acquiring Parler, the alternative social media platform favored by many conservatives.
[launched](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/23/investing/trump-spac-truth-social/index.html) in February on Apple’s app store, and was [approved](https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/12/tech/truth-social-app-approved-google-play/index.html) for Google’s app store on Oct. Documents provided to the House committee investigating the Capitol riots [have shown](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/15/politics/secret-service-january-6-threats) how the Secret Service was aware of posts on Parler that suggested the possibility of violence surrounding that day. After the shirt incident, the apparel company Adidas this month said it was [reviewing](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/07/business/kanye-west-adidas-partnership-review) its partnership with West. In September, West also said he was [abandoning a two-year partnership](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/business/kanye-west-gap-termination) with the clothing retailer Gap. [failure to adequately moderate violent rhetoric](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/09/tech/parler-suspended-apple-app-store/index.html) on the platform. Musk has repeatedly called for eliminating permanent bans and rethinking Twitter’s approach to content moderation, which could once again make the much larger platform a home for some of the users who jumped to small services like Parler. 6 riots, Parler was removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for what the companies said was a After Ye’s antisemitic tweet sparked an outcry, Musk (Twitter, by comparison, has more than 237 million daily active users.) It also highlights how a small group of wealthy men, some of whom were banned or suspended themselves for incendiary remarks, are looking to own social media platforms in an effort to bolster what they call “free speech.” As of early Monday, the account had roughly 500 followers. Parler’s parent, Parlement Technologies, would remain involved by providing technical services and cloud support.
Parler's parent company said it has entered into "an agreement in principle" to sell Parler to Ye.
[China's shifting economic storyline](/2022/10/17/xi-jinping-china-economy) government, for which China is a massive creditor. 6 select committee](https://www.axios.com/2022/07/10/bannon-trump-executive-privilege-committee). [sent the pound](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/british-pound-liz-truss-tax-cuts) to a record low against the dollar. Catch up quick: Parler was created in September 2018 as a free speech alternative to apps like Twitter and Facebook. [Billionaires eye parallel media universe](https://www.axios.com/2022/04/15/elon-musk-twitter-billionaires-free-speech-social-media) [raised](https://www.axios.com/2022/01/07/conservative-social-media-app-parler-raises-20-million)$20 million in new funding in January. [returned](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/02/google-parler-app-play-store)to Google's app store last month. finance minister scraps most of tax cut plan](/2022/10/17/uk-jeremy-hunt-liz-truss-tax-cut-plan) [restricted](https://www.npr.org/2022/10/09/1127732183/kanye-west-instagram-twitter)in response to antisemitic posts. [Technology](https://www.axios.com/technology) [Kanye West](https://www.axios.com/2022/10/17/twitter-kanye-trump-elon-musk-bans-content), plans to [acquire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ye-formerly-known-as-kanye-west-to-acquire-parler-platform-301650579.html) Parler, a Twitter-like social media app that has become a haven for conservatives.
The announcement from Parler's CEO and parent company Parlement came after Instagram, Twitter removed antisemitic posts from West.
Musk also tweeted that he [spoke to Ye](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1579627776231247874?s=20&t=0D2OoFoUeO0NN1rtbOqmiQ) about the tweet that got him kicked off. [found a way back online](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/02/15/parler-returns-online/?itid=lk_inline_manual_13) several weeks later. 6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/january-6-capitol-riot/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11) insurrection at the U.S. [minimal rules](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/15/parler-conservative-twitter-alternative/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11) also became a popular place for people to share conspiracies about the election. Republican politicians and pundits have for years accused the leading social media sites of “censoring” content. Parler started building a name for itself in 2020 as a friendly gathering spot for conservative politicians and pundits, including those who were turned off by moderation policies at leading social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
American rapper , who now goes by Ye, has agreed in principle to buy Parler, the social media platform popular among U.S. conservatives, parent company ...
“I see this as a warning shot across the bow for companies that want to de-platform people," Farmer said. Parler is one of several social media platforms, including Gettr, Gab and Truth Social, that position themselves as free-speech alternatives to Twitter Inc [(TWTR.N)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/TWTR.N). [being removed](/technology/social-media-app-parler-returns-googles-play-store-2022-09-02/) following the U.S. [(GPS.N)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/GPS.N), while German sporting goods maker Adidas [(ADSGn.DE)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/ADSGn.DE) on Oct. It did not give a deal value. [(META.O)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/META.O), which owns Instagram and Facebook, locked Ye out of his Instagram account for the posts. [The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.](https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/about-us/trust-principles.html) "In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves," he said in a statement. Ye seemed to have joined Parler on Monday and had about 91 followers at the time of the announcement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com [locked his account](/world/kanye-wests-twitter-instagram-accounts-restricted-after-alleged-anti-semitic-2022-10-09/). [Kanye West](/world/kanye-wests-twitter-instagram-accounts-restricted-after-alleged-anti-semitic-2022-10-09/), who now goes by Ye, has agreed in principle to buy Parler, the social media platform popular among U.S.
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West is offering to buy right-wing friendly social network Parler shortly after he was blocked from posting on Twitter ...
A month after the attack, Parler announced a relaunch. In one post on Twitter, Ye said he would soon go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE,” according to internet archive records, making an apparent reference to the U.S. None of them come close to Twitter, which reported that it had a daily average of about 237.8 million active users during its most recent quarter. Ye was blocked from posting on Twitter and Instagram a week ago over antisemitic posts that the social networks said violated their policies. But it was kicked offline following the Jan. Parlement Technologies, which owns the platform, and West said the acquisition should be completed in the fourth quarter, but details like price were not disclosed.
Parler made waves in the crypto space when the right-leaning social network launched an NFT marketplace and Donald Trump NFTs.
The app returned to the Apple App Store on May 17, 2021, and Google Play on September 2, 2022. Parler was also removed from Amazon Web Services (AWS) for what the tech giant called its lack of policing of questionable and violent content. The Solana foundation quickly distanced itself from the project. No stranger to Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, Ye sang the praises of the technology during an October 2020 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. Following the January 6 capital riot, Parler was removed from the Google Play and Apple App stores. Kanye West, the controversial entertainer and supporter of former U.S.
After being locked out of his Twitter and Instagram accounts for anti-semitic posts, Monday's announcement Kanye West will buy the far-right social platform ...
What he agreed to purchase is a platform with an embarrassingly small user base comprised of far-right extremists and racists. “Hi everyone!” one VIP wrote in a reply-all. The rapper-turned-MAGA-hero, who now goes by Ye, was not a user of the platform he aims to purchase until Monday and has never posted on the app. “That is what Parler is best known for.” “It’s dead,” one Republican activist involved with digital advertising underscored to me by phone when I asked what he thought of the platform. After being locked out of his Twitter and Instagram accounts for anti-semitic posts, Monday’s announcement Kanye West will buy the far-right social platform Parler for an undisclosed amount drove headlines.
Rapper Kanye West speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office with President Trump on Oct. 11, 2018. (Evan Vucci/AP). By Anousha ...
“Through West’s efforts, Parler has the potential to become more mainstream,” Edwards said. Its ranking tumbled from third place among social/micro blogging apps in the U.S. Capitol, saying the company hadn’t done enough to curb threats to safety. “While Parler has always prohibited violent or other rights-violating content, we agree with Nadine Strossen and other scholars that ‘objectionable’ but otherwise lawful speech is best addressed by allowing or encouraging more speech.” Edwards, executive director, Texas Social Media Research Institute at Tarleton State University. in the first half of 2021 to 10th in the first half of this year. Launched in 2018, Parler is based in Nashville. Apple and Google last year removed Parler from their app stores following the deadly Jan. “People had talked about it and mentioned this idea for years, but enough was enough.” “People who have never heard of the social media platform will flock to it, merely out of curiosity.” “Parler’s content policies are based on the principle of individual rights — including everyone’s inalienable rights to speak freely and think for themselves,” Amy Peikoff, head of policy and legal at Parler, said in a statement. [, agreed to a deal in principle](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2022-10-16/kanye-west-antisemitism-adidas-def-jam-caa-the-gap-tucker-carlson-kardashian) to sell itself to the controversial rapper and fashion designer, the company [said](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ye-formerly-known-as-kanye-west-to-acquire-parler-platform-301650579.html) Monday.
One week ago, Kanye West was temporarily suspended from Twitter for posting antisemitic tweets. Now, the rapper has agreed to acquire Parler, an alternative ...
(Following the Parler announcement, Musk [tweeted](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1582100139526983680), and later deleted, “fun times ahead!” along with a meme showing the two men’s smiling faces superimposed over a cartoon.) Conservative users uninterested in politics may also avoid the alternative platforms because of other objectionable content they host, according to experts who study the space. That could only make it harder to compete with a Musk-owned Twitter. [chaotic business dealings](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/business/kanye-west-gap-termination) — may have wanted to acquire Parler, a platform that’s been home to election denialism, antisemitism and adherents to the conspiracy theory QAnon. Radio personality Joe Rogan — who previously discussed a move to Gettr — said in a “In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves,” he said. In a [slide deck](https://tmtgcorp.com/company-overview/), Trump’s digital media company touted the ambitious possibility of creating not just alternatives to the major social media platforms but also to cloud computing products like Amazon Web Services and payment service Stripe. But even with app store approvals, large marketers tend to shy away from running ads alongside content that even whiffs of controversy. For starters, the audience for these alternative platforms remains far smaller than the mainstream services they are competing with. West also discussed his planned Parler takeover with Trump, a source familiar with the conversation told CNN Monday, although it was unclear if the two spoke before or after the news of the rapper’s acquisition was made public. [temporarily suspended](https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/09/entertainment/kanye-west-twitter-account-locked) from Twitter for posting antisemitic tweets. Separately, Peter Thiel, an influential venture capitalist and Republican donor, invested in Rumble, a conservative alternative to YouTube.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, has agreed in principle to , which is popular among U.S. conservatives, the app's parent company said on Monday.
Parler did not give a deal value, but the Nashville-based company has raised about $56 million to date. Musk is in negotiations to buy Twitter and Trump started his own network called Truth Social. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Amazon.com Inc also temporarily stopped hosting the platform, effectively taking it offline. After the Jan. Its hands-off approach to content moderation has made it popular among U.S. conservatives who disagree with content limits on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. [Trump](https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-truth-social/) and Tesla [(TSLA.O)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/TSLA.O) CEO [Elon Musk](/markets/us/how-will-elon-musk-pay-twitter-2022-10-07/) have turned to social media ownership to combat censorship on prominent social media networks. [(AAPL.O)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/AAPL.O) and Alphabet's Google [(GOOGL.O)](https://www.reuters.com/companies/GOOGL.O) took Parler off their app stores, saying the company had not taken adequate measures to prevent posts inciting violence. [larger overhaul](/technology/parler-returns-apples-app-store-names-new-ceo-2021-05-17/) to focus on customers who risk being pushed off the internet. [offer to buy Parler](/technology/parler-be-acquired-by-kanye-west-2022-10-17/) comes in response to his suspension from larger platforms. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Right-wing social media platform Parler inadvertently leaked hundreds of its verified users' private email addresses in an announcement about Kanye West ...
According to Comscore data (via right-wing media tracker [TheRighting)](https://www.therighting.com/kanye-eyes-parler-as-traffic-tanks), Parler only received 137,000 unique visitors this past August, down from the 12.3 million it received at its height in January 2021. [read the email for Parler's VIP users](https://twitter.com/TrackInflation/status/1582324116505661440) signed by its Outreach team. [Tweet may have been deleted (opens in a new tab)] The photos and videos archived from Parler quickly spread. This means their names and private email addresses were visible to everyone who received the email. [Ye, aka Kanye West](https://mashable.com/article/ye-kanye-instagram-suspended), the rapper-turned-right-wing-pundit, has [agreed to acquire Parler](https://mashable.com/article/kanye-west-buys-parler-social-media).