'YOU DON'T CHOOSE TO BE OWNED'
Will.i.am says Kanye West slave outburst ‘broke his heart’ and hopes he’s not saying it ‘to sell shoes’
It comes after the rapper made the shock comments during an interview with TMZ
WILL.I.AM has said Kanye West's slave outburst "broke his heart" and hopes he's not stirring up controversy in order "to sell shoes".
It come after the rapper sensationally claimed slavery was a "choice" for African Americans - and defended his decision to support US President Donald Trump.
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Kanye, 40, made the confession during a series of rambling interviews where he opened up about his views on race and how other rappers perceive him.
While taking part in a TMZ Live interview he said: "When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years, that sounds like choice.
"Like, you was there for 400 years and it's all of y'all?"
Voice UK judge will.i.am appeared on today's Good Morning Britain and had an impassioned response to Kanye's outburst.
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He said: "That broke my heart, because I thought about my grandma, who was born in 1920, and her connection with her mom who raised her, who was born in the late 1800s.
"And my grandmother's grandma, who was a slave. And when you're a slave, you're owned.
"You don't choose if you're owned. When you're a slave you're deprived of education. That's not choice, that's by force.
"So I understand the need to have free thought, but if your thoughts aren't researched, that is just going to hurt those that are still in conditions where it's not choice.
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"That when they go down the street and there's a liquor store and fast-food restaurants and your education is not being funded the same way that it is being in Calabasas...
"When governments stifle and limit the amount of money that goes to Chicago, Bronx, Watts, 5th Ward Mississippi, East Los Angeles, where I'm from."
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He added: "That statement was one of the most ignorant statements that anybody who came from the hood could ever say about their ancestors, that slavery is a choice. What are you talking about?"
When asked by Piers if the outburst was a reflection of the Kanye he knew, Will said: "To me, that's a different person that's saying that.
"And I hope it's not to raise awareness so you could sell some records and some shoes, because that would be the worst thing to do, to stir up this very touchy race situation and you be the benefactor from it.
"So I encourage you, if you really believe this, give your shoes away for free, give your album away for free.
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"And I don't like talking about going against my community, but that is harmful. I will not throw my ancestors under the bus to profit."
Piers then said: "I know you were wary about saying this in public but I hope Kanye listens to it."
An emotional Will said: "If he listens or not. We're talking about it. With so many real issues in the world... It makes me want to cry talking about that."
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