Kanye West's latest worrying Twitter tirade included a bizarre reference to a dark Michael Jackson conspiracy theory. Photos / Supplied, Getty Images.
Kanye West's latest worrying Twitter tirade included a bizarre reference to one of music's biggest names: Michael Jackson.
And West appeared to reference conspiracy theories claiming that Jackson was murdered.
In one since-deleted tweet, West wrote: "MJ told you about Tommy before they killed him. Kim saved my daughter's life in the name of Jesus. It's God's choice only. I will live for my children Kris I'm in Cody if you're not planning another one of your children's playboy shoots."
West appears to be referring to Jackson's bitter feud with former Sony CEO Tommy Mottola. The pair had worked together from Jackson's 1991 Dangerous album to the release of Invincible, 10 years later.
"The record companies really do conspire against their artists. They cheat, they do whatever they can. Especially the black artists," Jackson said in a widely shared 2002 speech alongside civil rights activist Al Sharpton.
"Sony. Tommy Mottola is the president of the record division. He is mean, he's a racist and he's very, very, very devilish."
Sharpton, who was standing alongside Jackson as he made the speech, later said was he was shocked by the allegations.
"I have known Tommy for 15 or 20 years, and never once have I known him to say or do anything that would be considered racist," he told the New York Post. "In fact, he's always been supportive of the black music industry. He was the first record executive to step up and offer to help us with respect to corporate accountability, when it comes to black music issues."
Jackson died of cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009 at his home in Los Angeles, less than three weeks before his This Is It comeback residency was due to start in London. He was 50.
Jackson's personal doctor Conrad Murray was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for his part in Jackson's death, serving two years in prison.
The strange reference to Jackson was just one of a slew of troubling claims West made in his latest Twitter spree.
He also seemingly revealed he has tried to file for divorce from Kim Kardashian West, while reiterating that she and matriarch Kris Jenner have attempted to have him hospitalised.
Overnight, Kim defended Kanye and made mention of his mental health, noting bipolar disorder.
"Any one who has this or has a loved one in their life who does, knows how incredibly complicated and painful it is to understand," she wrote.
"I've never spoken publicly about how this has affected us at home because I am very protective of our children and Kanye's right to privacy when it comes to his health."
But Kardashian West noted she felt compelled to speak "today" because "of the stigma and misconceptions of mental health".
"Those that understand mental illness or compulsive behaviour know that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor. People who are unaware or far removed from this experience can be judgmental and not understand that the individual themselves have to engage in the process of getting help no matter how hard the family try," she wrote.