Kanye West Yeezus Track 'On Sight,' Lyrics Slammed by Parkinson's Disease Organization
Kanye West's new album Yeezus may be getting acclaim from the critics, but one advocacy organization leader has not taken kindly to some lyrics by the rapper.
West drew the ire of the American Parkinson Disease Association for a line in his new song On Sight, TMZ reported Thursday.
"A monster about to come alive again/Soon as I pull up and park the Benz/We get this bitch shaking like Parkinson's," West raps in the song.
About one million people in the United States have Parkinson's disease, a neurological condition caused by the degradation of nerve cells. Parkinson's results in the loss of control of motor functions and involuntary shaking, as referenced in the lyric.
APDA vice president Kathryn Whitford condemned West for his insensitivity toward those afflicted with the illness. She said in a statement, posted on the association's official website, "We find these lyrics distasteful and the product of obvious ignorance."
Another head of a Parkinson's advocacy group, Steve Ford of British organization Parkinson's UK, also criticized the rapper for his lyrics.
"Kanye West has shown an inexcusable level of stupidity and cruelty towards people living with an incurable condition," said Ford.
He also noted that there is discrimination and stereotyping of disease sufferers, and that "thoughtless, callous" comments like West's "can only serve to make things even worse for them."
Tom Palizzi, the chair of Parkinson's Disease Foundation's People with Parkinson's Advisory Council, wrote an open letter to West hoping to educate him about the disease and the people who live with it.
"With utmost respect for freedom of expression and the inherent controversial nature of art in general," Palizzi wrote, "there is, however, a fine line between expression and insensitivity. I would be delighted to help Mr. West better understand the truths and myths of 'Parkinson's' and how it indiscriminately impacts the lives of roughly 1,000,000 Americans and their families."
Notable people afflicted with Parkinson's include legendary boxer Muhammed Ali and actor Michael J. Fox. Fox will be starring on an eponymous show on NBC this fall as a character with the disease. Previews of the show have suggested his portrayal would walk the fine line between the serious and the self-deprecating.
Yeezus was released on Tuesday, although it was leaked late last week.
