How the visionary musician and designer brought down his own career

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Photograph: Matt DetrichUSA Today/Reuters
Photograph: Matt DetrichUSA Today/Reuters

Kanye West has arguably suffered one of the most spectacular downfalls in contemporary culture.

Brands such as Adidas, Balenciaga and JP Morgan have severed ties with the 45-year-old after an anti-Semitic tirade in October.

Now known as Ye, the artist tweeted to say he would go “death (sic) con 3 on Jewish people” and continued to share incendiary conspiracy theories about the community.

With his music and fashion empire lying in ruins, Irish Times columnist Finn McRedmond argues the “tortured genius” trope allowed him to get away with his outrageous behaviour for far too long.