Kanye West — in perhaps a satirical album marketing ploy yet to be disclosed — recently took to Twitter and ended up in Trump’s corner, praising the President’s machismo ethos and their shared “dragon energy.” The Grammy Award-winning MC’s rapid-fire tweets have been simultaneously perplexing and fascinating, but by far my favorite aspect of the bizarre dialogue was Ye’s public display of John Legend’s opposition and resulting drama.

Accordingly, I now present to you our generation’s Shakespearean five-act play: Much Ado About Ye.
I. — Exposition.
You don't have to agree with trump but the mob can't make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don't agree with everything anyone does. That's what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
The defining trait of Trump's campaign and political profile was his embrace of white supremacy. He made it clear every time he spoke. Some serious cognitive dissonance to ignore that for the other x% you might find appealing. I guess I agree with >1% of anyone's thoughts though
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 25, 2018
All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And [two men] in [their] time plays many parts. As if the Twitterverse needed an introduction to these two larger than life characters. However, their individual stances regarding President Donald J. Trump perhaps eluded the public eye. With the stage set, we begin our tale.
my MAGA hat is signed 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/DrDHJybS8V
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
II. — Rising Action.
Here, our story builds toward the point of greatest interest.
whenever someone mentions the word "fan" to me it's super manipulative. It's like "don't do or say this because of your fans" My fans are fans of themselves.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
And any fan of me wants Ye to be Ye even when they don't agree because I represent the fact that they can be themselves even when people don't agree with them. Drops mic 🎤Yeezy shrug 🤷♂️
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018
And we keep building…
People usually don't agree with people who don't agree with them
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
Finally, the events that give rise to and set up the climax and ultimately the satisfactory resolution of the story itself:
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
Ah-so. The key conflict rears its ugly head…
III. — Climax.
I tweeted the John text to show that there are people around me that disagree with me and voice their opinion. I respect everyone's opinion but I stand my ground.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
I really appreciate this dialogue with John Legend because I'm actually very empathetic. Im still the kid from the telethon. I feel when people think of MAGA they don't think of empathy.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
try telling people you love them it actually feels weird at first. We're really good at hating each other. We have to get good at loving each other.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
Meanwhile…
Based on the flood of maga in my mentions, they think Trump saved America's economy. And that black folks, in particular, should be grateful to our racist president for our low unemployment rate
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 27, 2018
Just like Trump to slap his name on something someone else built and take credit for it.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 27, 2018
The turning point, which changes the Ye’s fate. Things go from good to bad for Ye, revealing his notably unhidden weakness: hubris.
John Legend new single on line now 😂
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
Oh shit. Hate disguised as support? Who can say. But perhaps a narrative solution is en route…
IV. — Falling Action.
This sordid conflict between Ye and JL unravels, but instead of a clear winner emerging — radio silence. The men take to their respective corners. Ye tweets a multitude of cartoons with his tweets as captions as well as darkly macabre images geometric architecture/clothing.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 26, 2018
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 27, 2018
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 27, 2018
Is his sanity beginning to slip? JL, on the other hand, rises to Red Lobster cheddar biscuit recipes with his wifey:
and it was FANTASTIC https://t.co/EY85FWxktO
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 28, 2018
A moment of final suspense, in which the final outcome of the conflict is in doubt…
V. — Dénouement.
Lead with love pic.twitter.com/tj2a9LFYKZ
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 28, 2018
With John tickling the ivories, the conflicts are resolved, creating normality for Ye and John and a sense of catharsis for the Twitterverse. All complexities are at once unraveled. Both men are better off than at this tale’s outset. Ye is restored to power and with his closing promise to “lead with love,” the politically-charged series of events that would purport to tear the two friends apart has actually brought them closer.
We got love. Agree to disagree pic.twitter.com/kaTcPYH0zL
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 28, 2018
[banner image courtesy of Raymond Hall/GC Images]
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