The rapper’s sixth studio album, Yeezus, was released this week and a storm has already brewed up over one of the tracks. In the song On Sight, Kanye appears to use Parkinson’s disease as a punch line, and the insensitive move has attracted anger from the American Parkinson Disease Association.
The track features the line, "A monster about to come alive again / Soon as I pull up and park the Benz / We get this b***h shaking like Parkinson's."
Kathryn Whitford, who is Vice President of the American Parkinson Disease Association, has slammed Kanye’s choice of words.
“We find these lyrics distasteful and the product of obvious ignorance," she told TMZ.
Kanye is yet to respond to the controversy.
American Parkinson Disease Association isn’t the only organisation to speak out against the rapper.
Tom Palizzi, Chair for People with Parkinson's Advisory Council, has also condemned the star and urged him to improve his understanding of the degenerative disorder.
“Kanye West is without question a richly talented and multifaceted artist. With utmost respect for freedom of expression and the inherent controversial nature of art in general, there is, however, a fine line between expression and insensitivity,” he said. “Many of us appreciate the lighter side of having a chronic and degenerative movement disorder, though as many interpret such statements as harsh and insensitive. As Chair and on behalf of PPAC, I would be delighted to help Mr. West better understand the truths and myths of Parkinson's. Notable people such as Michael J. Fox, Muhammad Ali and Ben Petrick, my peers and millions of others are testament to the enduring spirit of people with Parkinson's.”
It was recently reported that Kanye – who became a father on 15 June, when Kim Kardashian gave birth to a girl - was adding some “consumer-friendly” singles to his new album.
Last month, the star performed new tracks Black Skinhead and New Slaves on US TV show Saturday Night Live and the material was met with mixed reviews.
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