glorifying Nazi leader Nazi leader Adolf Hitler has racked up millions of views on Elon Musk's X platform. The song was banned by other sites such as YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music, according to news agency AFP.Titled "Heil Hitler", the song was released on May 8 and it coincided with 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II. As of weekend, the video had seen nearly 10 million times.

In the clip, dozens of Black men, wearing animal pelts and masks, and standing in a block formation, chant the title of the song, as West raps about being misunderstood and his custody battle with ex-wife Kim Kardashian. The song ends with an extract of a speech by the Nazi dictator.

Kanye West, who now prefers to go by Ye and the winner of 24 Grammys over the course of his career in hip-hop, in recent years has made repeated antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements.

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NBC News cited a YouTube spokesperson as saying: "We removed the content and will continue to take down reuploads."Reddit also told NBC that it would remove any versions of the song from its platform, with a spokesperson adding: "Hate and anti-Semitism have absolutely no place on Reddit."The song has also been removed from streaming platforms Spotify and Apple Music. Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter (now known as X) in 2022, the platform has faced criticism for a perceived rise in hate speech and disinformation, with Musk positioning himself as a defender of free expression.

However, detractors argue that Musk is using his influence to elevate voices that align with his political views.

Musk has emerged as a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, reportedly contributing $277 million to Trump and other Republican candidates during the 2024 election cycle. X did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.

In February, rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) had his X account deactivated following a multi-day series of posts that included anti-Semitic statements and repeated self-identification as a "Nazi."

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South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang has cancelled a Kanye West concert that was scheduled for late May, citing "recent controversies involving the artist," according to statements released Monday by the company and ticket vendor Interpark. Neither company provided specific details regarding the controversies. This is due to Heil Hitler title track which has drawn massive criticism as the rapper heaped praises on the Nazi leader responsible for the holocaust.

This is not the first time the artist has faced backlash. In October 2022, Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye following a series of antisemitic remarks. The company sold off the remaining stock of his Yeezy-branded shoes in March.

Coupang and Interpark confirmed that all tickets sold for the May 31 show in Incheon would be fully refunded. Coupang, which was organizing the concert through its streaming platform Coupang Play, also announced it had halted the sale of Yeezy merchandise on Monday.

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This year in February, the website of his Yeezy fashion brand was taken offline after plain white T-shirts with a swastika went on sale. The rapper had been locked out of social media platforms in the past, notably when he was banned from X for nearly eight months for violating rules barring incitement to violence.

Adidas cut ties with West in 2022 after allegations of antisemitism against him. The partnership was one of the most successful sportswear tie-ups in history, and the resulting Yeezy range went on to help make West a billionaire.

As of Saturday, Forbes put his net worth at $400 million. For years, West has spoken openly about struggles with bipolar disorder. He has said on "The Download" podcast that he has been diagnosed with autism.

(With inputs from AFP)