Kim Kardashian's fiery tweets about the non-profit Donda's House, explained
If you've been online in the past 48 hours, you might have been privy to a hot, heaping pile of messy tweets courtesy of Kim Kardashian.
Kim has been in the throes of a heated Twitter spar with frequent Kanye West collaborator Rhymefest, and it's all regarding a non-profit organization in Chicago, created in the name of Kanye's late mother. Buckle up, and let us break it down for you.
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What is Donda's House?
Fellow Chicago-native Rhymefest — who has had a hand in writing Kanye hits like "Jesus Walks" — helped found Donda's House, an arts-based, youth-focused non-profit organization in the city. On Saturday, Rhymefest tweeted a message out to Drake (who recently invoiced Kanye and his record label, but that's another story) asking for financial support to "rebuild Kanye's mother's house for the youth of Chicago."
Rhymefest has always publicly lauded the late Dr. Donda West, Kanye's mother, for being an influence in his life and discussed the rebuilding of her home with AV Club. "We purchased Kanye’s childhood home, and we’re trying to raise money to create a center there and call it a lighthouse," he told the website. "So that the light that originated at that home can happen for young people from around that community in the name of Dr. Donda West."
In his tweet on Saturday, Rhymefest said he had spoken to Kanye about supporting the house, to no avail. "His response was 'fuck the youth of Chicago,'" he tweeted.
@Drake when G.O.O.D. Music sends the money they owe you, will you please help us rebuild Kanye’s mothers house for the youth of Chicago. I spoke to Kanye about it. His response was “fuck the youth of Chicago”
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) May 26, 2018
The day before, Donda's House tweeted a statement outlining the history of the organization, Kanye's recent political alignments, previous financial support for the organization, and his alleged lack of interest in continuing to support future projects — like the transformation of his childhood home into a museum and cultural center.
"As we seek support to convert Kanye’s childhood home into a recording studio, museum, and learning space – we have been unable to secure the financial support of Kanye despite multiple attempts, and despite those early conversations about his plan of support and advocacy for the youth in our programs," the statement reads, before asking the public for volunteer support and donations.
Kim's Twitter fingers
In response to these tweets and statements, Kim Kardashian went on a Twitter tirade on Saturday night responding to Rhymefest's comments and suggesting that she was seeking future control of the non-profit.
U haven’t been right since u got kicked out of the studio in Hawaii wearing fake Yeezy’s @RHYMEFEST 😂 You’re over levergenging Kanye’s name & asked Kanye to donate money to u so stop w your fake community politics & lies. Truth is you haven’t been able to sustain the foundation
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 26, 2018
"You haven’t been right since u got kicked out of the studio in Hawaii wearing fake Yeezy’s," she tweeted to Rhymefest. "You’re over levergenging [sic] Kanye’s name & asked Kanye to donate money to you so stop w your fake community politics & lies. Truth is you haven’t been able to sustain the foundation."
"You have the audacity to use Kanye’s mom name to try to shead [sic] a negative light on Kanye," she continued, after attacking his "sub par beats."
Kim also suggested that she hoped one day her children would run the foundation, before tweeting that Rhymefest was no longer welcome in Wyoming — where Kanye is currently perched with the family, finishing up his album.
You better believe I will make it my mission to take Donda’s House from you and let my children run it the way it should be run! @RHYMEFEST
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 26, 2018
Rhymefest releases a statement
In response to her tweets, Rhymefest penned a letter to Kim, discussing his recent conversations with Kanye and more.
"How can you criticize an organization that you've never physically been to or that you've never even talked to the Executive Director or any of the team," he wrote, explaining his relationship to Dr. Donda West and the "hundreds of her students and mentees who not only support the work that we are doing in Chicago, but compel it."
"At this point, if you and Kanye want us to dissolve the organization so you can do the work, we welcome that," he wrote, saying that the work he has done with the community will continue "in spite of you and Kanye's lack of interest or support."
Hey @KimKardashian good to hear from you. Here’s my response pic.twitter.com/dWvwZfr1b5
— Rhymefest (@RHYMEFEST) May 27, 2018
But what about Chicagoans?
Folks from Chicago and those who are familiar with Donda's House have also spoken up, calling out Kim and Kanye for their lack of support or involvement in anything to do with the communities uplifting and fighting for people of the Windy City.
Girl. Bye. Rhymefest’s & his wife put in mad work across the city to help Donda’s House. Literally saw them in Walmart on 83rd buying supplies for the youth music program. Where have you been at the last 5 years? I’ll be quiet lol https://t.co/wqsZgYLIwu
— LaNika✌️✈️💚 (@LanikaFiasco) May 27, 2018
This is about Kim & her privileged ass family exercising their power & privilege. Kim had no involvement in that organization nor has she even made it a priority to get involved. But now since her husband got called out she wants to take that organization from those people.
— Bella Goth (@HoodSocialist) May 27, 2018
But the work of another dope Black woman is potentially erased. Donnie Smith, Executive Director of Donda's House, has worked tirelessly on that organization. Google her!
— Charles Preston (@_CharlesPreston) May 27, 2018
If Kanye was secretly doing some amazing charity work and I somehow never heard of it PLEASE let me know because it honestly makes me so sad. I remember when he started the joint in LA (which was really his mom’s thing) my mom was so sad. “Why not chicago?”
— wikipedia brown will not yield not one second (@eveewing) May 27, 2018
Kim K telling Rhyme that she will take DH from him and let HER children run it is all about power. She dgaf about the youth the program helps, bc if she did, she'd know that neither her or her children are equipped to run an organization on the southside of Chicago.
— Lara Beencroft (@Pinky_Balboa) May 26, 2018
Taking the ridiculously self-absorbed celebrities out of the equation: it’s legit sad Donda’s House doesn’t have the resources it needs
— Kim Bellware (@bellwak) May 27, 2018
Rhymefest asked for support for Donda’s House a namesake of Kanye’s mom & y’all praising Kim’s “clapback” about fake Yeezy’s, paid plane tickets, missed features & her fucking kids running a house on the south side of Chicago. When is the last time Kim or Kanye been there? 😒
— Shaunte (@JustShauny) May 27, 2018
The last word, so far
In a final statement to Kanye and Kim, Donda's House announced that because of the tweets from Kim, the organization would be moving forward with a different name.
"Over the last five years we have put our students and our community first," the statement read, thanking the City of Chicago and supporters for their help. "We encourage Kim and Kanye to indeed pick up the baton of service."
Please read the attached final statement regarding the future of @DondasHouse, effective immediately: @kanyewest & @KimKardashian. pic.twitter.com/aNVWbJ1h49
— Donda's House, Inc. (@DondasHouse) May 27, 2018
Throughout all this, Kanye has yet to speak for himself about the organization, his frequent collaborator's statements, or his wife's tweets. Keeping up with Kimye is messier than ever.