Kanye West plans to acquire conservative-aligned social network Parler

Social network Parler said Monday that Kanye West announced his intention to buy the platform, which has gained popularity among US conservatives.

"In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves," the rapper and fashion mogul, who is now known as Ye, said in Parler's statement.

Parlement Technologies is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement in principle for Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to acquire the Parler platform. The acquisition ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome. pic.twitter.com/KXdhV71prl

— Parler (@parler_app) October 17, 2022

The value of the deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, was not disclosed.

Earlier in October, Instagram and Twitter restricted West's accounts over posts slammed as anti-Semitic.

George Farmer, Parler's executive director, said the deal will "change the way the world thinks about free speech."

"Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again," he said.

NEW @Axios: Ye, formerly Kanye West, plans to acquire Parler

Big picture: Conservatives really starting to build alternate media universe
— Elon is buying Twitter
— Trump building his own platform
— Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance are funding Rumblehttps://t.co/2bMJVs6PDY

— Sara Fischer (@sarafischer) October 17, 2022

Launched in 2018, Parler became a haven for supporters of former US president Donald Trump and far-right users who say they have been censored by other social media platforms such as Twitter.

But Parler was pulled from the Apple and Google online marketplaces and effectively shut down when Amazon Web Services cut ties over allegations the platform failed to stop incitement of violence ahead of the 6 January 2021 siege of the US Capitol.

Last month, Google allowed Parler back into its Play Store, more than a year after banning the platform.

The network describes itself as "a guiding force in the fight against Big Tech, Big Government, censorship, and cancel culture."