Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Kanye West to buy 'free speech' social media platform Parler

Kanye West to buy 'free speech' social media platform Parler

Parler only made its return to the Google Play Store last month, having been removed after the Capitol riots in January 2021 for allowing posts that sought "to incite ongoing violence in the US".

Kanye West is to buy the social media platform Parler, the company's current owner has announced.

Parlement Technologies said it had reached an agreement in principle to sell the "pioneering uncancelable free speech platform" to the rapper, who now goes by the name Ye.

West said: "In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves."

The controversial music star is active on Parler, which pitches itself as a "viewpoint-neutral social media app dedicated to freedom of expression, civil discourse, and user privacy".

West had his Twitter and Instagram accounts restricted last week after an allegedly antisemitic post.

He had tweeted for the first time in two years to complain of his ban from Instagram, with his return having been welcomed by prospective new Twitter owner Elon Musk.

"Welcome back to Twitter, my friend," he said to West, before the rapper was promptly banned from there too.

Why Parler is controversial


Parler only made its return to the Google Play Store last month, having been removed after the Capitol riots in January 2021 for allowing posts that seek "to incite ongoing violence in the US".

It was also taken off the Apple App Store after the attempted insurrection by a pro-Trump mob, but was allowed back on the platform four months later.

The app was mooted as a potential new home for Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter and other mainstream sites for his role in the violence, which came as Joe Biden's 2020 election win was being ratified.

Mr Trump ended up launching his own social media platform, Truth Social, which has seen a recent surge in popularity following the FBI raid on the former president's Florida estate.

Truth Social advertises itself similarly to Parler, promising a "big tent approach" free of censorship. Its tag line on the Google Play Store implores potential users to "follow the truth".

Kanye West was a backer of Donald Trump, but ran for president himself in 2020


Musk, meanwhile, has said the driving force behind wanting to buy Twitter is a will to uphold free speech, and the world's richest man has said he would overturn Mr Trump's ban.

After a tumultuous few months in which Musk committed to and then attempted to back out of buying Twitter, he has been given a court-issued deadline of 28 October to close the deal or face a trial.

West's takeover of Parler is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
×