Opinion — idolising billionaire bosses is a risk to worker rights
A new, lengthy article by Rolling Stone has outlined Kanye’s culture of bullying, pornography, and emotional abuse at Adidas. Alongside Elon Musk’s chaotic Twitter takeover, it’s time we stopped idealising billionaire bosses and prioritised worker rights.
Kanye West is back in the news again this week after Rolling Stone published an exclusive article outlining years of emotional bullying and extreme, sexually charged meetings at Yeezy.
It follows on from an autumn of rampant antisemitism and hate speech from West. He lost his Adidas deal, long-term management contract, and many close friendships as a result, dismantling his legacy and doubling down on unacceptable, hateful rhetoric.
West’s abusive behaviour, obsessive capitalist ambitions, and unempathetic approach demonstrate a fundamental flaw with our pedestalling of billionaire CEOs, a reality that has also been exemplified in recent weeks with Elon Musk’s appointment at Twitter.
A $44 billion USD purchase placed him firmly at the steering wheel of a fifteen-year-old business, and his presence was felt immediately.
