Headline Roundup • October 17th, 2022
Kanye West Plans to Buy Parler
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, plans to buy Parler, a social media platform that brands itself as the "premier global free speech app."
Key Quotes: In a statement, Ye said that "In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves." A Parler spokesperson said the deal "will assure Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome."
For Context: Ye was temporarily banned from Twitter and Instagram last week over posts in which he said he'd go "Death Con 3 on Jewish people." Parler launched in 2018 as an alternate social media platform that allowed largely unmoderated content, unlike Twitter and other platforms. It was recently reinstated on Google and Apple’s app stores after being removed following the U.S. capitol riot in January 2021. The exact terms of the deal aren't yet public.
Where the Media Agreed: Sources across the political spectrum covered the news, and most described Ye's recent social media posts as antisemitic.
Where the Media Disagreed: Washington Post (Lean Left bias) called Parler a "right-wing" platform "popular with with supporters of former president Donald Trump." Wall Street Journal (Center bias) called it a "libertarian" platform. Right-rated sources tended to avoid qualifying adjectives and describe Parler as a "social media platform."
Featured Coverage of this Story
CNN Business
Kanye West is acquiring Parler, the alternative social media platform favored by many conservatives.
Parler’s parent company announced the deal on Monday morning, saying West had made “a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again.”
The acquisition comes after West, who has legally changed his name to Ye, was temporarily locked by Twitter this month over an antisemitic tweet.
Exact terms of the Parler deal weren’t disclosed, though Parler said it must still enter into a definitive agreement with...
Edward Berthelot/GC Images
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, plans to acquire Parler, a Twitter-like social media app that has become a haven for conservatives.
Why it matters: In a statement, Ye said he's buying the platform to ensure people with conservative opinions "have the right to freely express ourselves" online.
Earlier this month, Ye's Instagram and Twitter accounts were restricted in response to antisemitic posts.
Details: In a statement, Parler's parent company Parlement Technologies said it has entered into "an agreement in principle" to sell Parler to Ye for an undisclosed amount.
"The proposed acquisition will assure Parler...
dpa/picture alliance via Getty I
Kanye West, the rapper and fashion designer who is now legally known as Ye, is said to be on the verge of buying social media app Parler just days after he was removed from mainstream platforms like Instagram and Twitter for anti-Semitic posts.
Parlement Technologies, the parent company of Nashville-based Parler, said it expects the deal to be completed later this year. The company, which has raised about $56 million till date, did not say how much Ye will pay for the acquisition.
Parler, which launched in 2018 as a social media app...
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