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Artist News
John Legend criticises Kanye’s Donald Trump meeting, but RZA says it was OK
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 16 December 2016
RZA has defended Kanye West over his recent catch up with President-Elect Donald Trump.
Despite the Wu-Tang leader himself endorsing Hillary Clinton in the run up to the recent American presidential election, he told TMZ: “Trump is the President, so we’re going to have to talk to him, deal with him. If Kanye went in to speak for our community then bong bong”. Yeah, exactly, bong bong.
As previously reported, although Trump insisted that his catch up with West was just two old friends “discussing life”, the rapper later said: “I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues. These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernising curriculums, and violence in Chicago. I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change”.
RZA’s comments followed John Legend criticising West for allowing Trump to use him as a distraction tactic, with West’s meeting with Trump pushing concerns about the President-Elect’s cabinet appointments, and the conflicts of interest between his new job and his business interests, down the news agenda.
Speaking to a French TV programme, Legend said, according to NME: “I don’t think it’s impossible to talk to [Trump] about issues, but I won’t be used as a publicity stunt. And I think Kanye was a publicity stunt”.
On West previously saying that he would have voted for Trump, had he bothered to vote in the Presidential election, Legend added: “I’m pretty disappointed with Kanye that he says he would have voted for Trump. I think Trump has been corrosive, his message has been corrosive to the country, and I think the things he’s promised to do have been very concerning for a lot of people. And for Kanye to support that message is very disappointing. Whatever was in his mind, I disagree with him”.
