Kanye West Insulted Floyd... Faces 350 Billion Won Damage Lawsuit from Bereaved Family

Kanye West Claims "Floyd Died from Fentanyl Overdose"
"I Can't Breathe" Floyd's Last Words Become Symbol of Racial Protest

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] The family of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white police officer pressed his knee on Floyd's neck during an arrest, announced on the 18th (local time) that they will file a 350 billion won lawsuit against hip-hop star Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) for damages.

The family stated that West will be sued for defamation with malicious lies, claiming that West asserted Floyd's death was caused by an overdose of the opioid painkiller fentanyl.

Floyd's wife, Roxie Washington, and their only daughter, Gianna, plan to file a civil lawsuit demanding $250 million (approximately 356.75 billion won) in damages through a law firm soon.

West recently appeared on a podcast program and claimed that Floyd died from a fentanyl overdose and underlying health conditions.

In a statement, Floyd's family said, "West's remarks are a disgusting attempt to diminish Floyd's life and profit from it," adding, "We will hold him accountable for his blatant statements."

Floyd was a victim of violence by white police officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May 2020. His last words, "I can't breathe," became a symbol of the racial discrimination protests that swept the United States two years ago.

Meanwhile, Ye has recently been at the center of controversy for making sensitive remarks, including posting anti-Semitic content on social media. On the 8th, he posted on his Twitter account that he would impose "death con 3" on Jewish people.

Previously, Ye was suspended from activities after criticism arose over anti-Semitic remarks on his Instagram account. Additionally, Ye referred to the COVID-19 vaccine as the "mark of the beast" and was criticized for wearing a T-shirt with the phrase "White Lives Matter" at Paris Fashion Week in France.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.