For months, Kanye West was doing some half-musical/half-spiritual “Sunday Service” series in Calabasas. Celebrities flocked to it every Sunday. Looking back on it now, he was clearly workshopping some idea, and he ended up bringing that idea to Coachella on Easter Sunday. People seemed to like it, from what I saw. Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention because I canceled Kanye West during one of his more egregious MAGA episodes and I never looked back. I know a big part of his MAGA episodes were bipolar-related, but I also think Kanye would just be a giant MAGA-hat wearing a–hole even without the mental illness. Anyway, back to the Sunday Service – now that Kanye’s shown that the Church Service concept works as a… concert, he wants to branch out and, like, create his own church.
Kanye West‘s Easter version of his Sunday Service at the second weekend of Coachella drew massive crowds — and inspired West to consider a more permanent spiritual path.
“He is extremely passionate about his faith and wants to share it more regularly with people,” a source close to West tells PEOPLE. “He spends a lot of time studying and praying, and wants to share his journey. Say what you want about Kanye, but he really does want to help people who need support. He understands brokenness and the need for healing, probably more than most people. He believes in the healing powers of music, but also believes that God can step in and heal people’s brokenness and their issues.”
According to TMZ, Coachella production sources counted over 50,000 people in attendance at the event, which was also live-streamed on YouTube.
“It was completely sincere,” says the source. “Everything about it was planned out, because he wanted to encourage and minister to people.”
“He has talked about starting his own church, and what exactly that would be,” the source continues. “It wouldn’t be the traditional, 3-hymns-and-a-sermon thing. Instead, it would be a way to point people to Jesus through the arts and through a community of people who love and care for each other. He also wants his kids to be raised in faith, and the best way for him to do that is to live out his faith.”
The source is just Kim, let’s be real. As for what the source claims, I think Kanye probably does want to start a church. It reminds me a bit about John Oliver starting his own church (Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption) to prove how wacky the tax laws are for churches and how easy it is to hide financial scams within a church. The thing is, I don’t even believe Kanye is capable of starting a church for some kind of financial scam. He would be the guy who starts a church and ends up losing all of his money because he wants to build a giant minimalist marble beige church with a gold toilet tower. Or something. I also feel like Preacher Yeezy will just be like Regular MAGA Yeezy. I mean…?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
I dunno this seems sketchy to me. With the all egos and money involved plus all the grey/beige clothing I’m getting more whiffs of cult than church.
I also really really hate that he and his wife are co-opting signifiers from the black church. Just another way for them to steal and commercialize the Black cultural experience.
I really appreciate this comment so much.
Yup cult not church (which is always a thin line anyway…)
Cult of Yeezy
Though I do think it’s from a more genuine (though misguided) place than a monetary/tax one.
I feel like a church is a natural progression in his narcissism.
Kult sounds better.
It’s Kris’ church of tax exemptions
Kris literally had a church (and exemption) years ago. it was all very sketchy. I wonder if she still has it.
Also a progression of bipolar- religious ideation and god complex are common manifestations.
Yup, this is pretty textbook.
Yeah…. that’s where my mind went when I saw the headline.
I guess his mother in law’s church isn’t good enough?
This does not sound like it will go well.
I thought he already had started his own church! They all dress in white and he sings to everyone. Creepy af.
Sorry, I wouldn’t be looking to Kanye for any kind of spiritual guidance.
On a superficial note, he needs to stop dressing like he escaped from a prison camp.
I do miss “The College Dropout” preppy look days.
I wouldn’t trust him to sit the correct way on a toilet seat, much less give me spiritual guidance
Give me a break. What has this world come to? I thought Trump was our undoing. But he appears to be only part of what is wrong with this country.
There’s a great New Yorker piece by Jia Tolentino on this “Sunday Service.” Including how PMK started her own church with some guy who had been kicked out of his church for an extramarital affair. Very sketchy and probably some tax scam. But I agree, if Kanye does it, I doubt it’s because he wants a tax dodge, and it probably won’t end well.
i really appreciated Jia calling PMK out on the church – you don’t hear about it much in the press.
I think “cult” is the word he’s looking for.
Church of The Fonz or I am not interested.
Yup. I can see this happening since it’s the easiest way to get rich quick. It’s will be a disaster, but I can see him doing this for sure.
I have founded a church. The church of wine, French fries, bacon and chocolate. Please join me in worship.
You’ve just found your first member!
Second member here.
I’m in.
Is there a communion of bacon dipped in chocolate? If so I’m down.
Not unless you incorporate ice cream as well. If you do, I’m in!
Of course he does. (insert rolled eyes here)
Yeah, TAYLOR is tiresome. *eyeroll*
his mother in law already has one, right? so every one gets to create their own? I don’t know how this is possible. Yes, I think many things go down the tax exemption route, and in this case, a new way to feed his ego. He was in the middle, surrounded by people dressed in that evolved drab -cultish looking -clothes he prefers.
No, thanks.
Only if he calls it The Church of Delusions of Grandeur or Famewhoring by Kanye and Kris.
$$$$$$ thats ALL this is about. Have you seen the overpriced crap he sold at Coachella. Grifters gonna grift
My thought exactly. Just another way to part fools from their money so that he can add an extension onto his mansion for another mausoleum-style bathroom.
Yep,
A Kult. And Kim can be its Kangeroo Court.
That is not a Sunday service it’s a jam session for narcissists.
“If you want to get rich, you start a religion.” … L. Ron Hubbard
I’m interested to hear the Sunday Service music. Otherwise, forget it. I don’t even go to regular church anymore, I’m definitely not interested in Kanye/Kardashian church.
Kanye is basically incompetent and being led to the slaughter (just like the proverbial lamb). If I’m not mistaken, Kris already has her own “church” so this is most certainly a money making / money laundering scheme.
I’m so over celebrity worship, at this point I feel if there are those out there feeble / gullible enough to be swindled- so be it.
*Kanye Shrug*
As long as Churches are tax exempt people will always take advantage. Maybe he thinks he can build the American version of Notre Dame…then it mysteriously burns down and poof millions of dollars poor in lol. Could you imagine how snobby and elitist his Church would be? Only beautiful women with big asses allowed…only designer clothes he approves of…only people who are willing to chant “Kim Kardashian is the most beautiful, smartest, and hardest working woman on the planet!” are allowed in. Please.
Tax free!
He already thinks he’s Jesus so this seems like the next logical step.
I imagine that the kind of people that attend his “services” are the same idiots that are trampling all over the super bloom flowers in California and are constantly obsessing over their social media. They wait for the Kardashian-Jenner’s of the world to tell them what to eat, wear and do next. They are the kool-aid drinkers, buyers of hype, the oblivious bubble dwellers existing in our society who probably don’t even vote. 😒
Their Easter service had a VIP Section for goodness sake, wtf kind of church has that??? #fakechurch
Not to mention the “church merch” they were trying to sell. Anyone who pays 300 bucks for a t-shirt is as stupid as they come ! Did any of that money go to charity? Probably not.
He could just give to charity if he wants to help folks. Worship doesn’t put food on the table or gas in the car.
I know blind items cannot be taken seriously, but that was an item talking about how PMK was thinking of starting her own church or something.
she already had (or still has?) a church, she started it like 10 years ago now. that blind item was BS.
Would anyone care if we never saw this man’s face or name in print ever again, and ditto for the wife / Esq. in training? I mean, don’t most people just shake their heads in bewilderment at everything they do?
There are plenty of charlatans with houses of worship. What’s one more?
He was also going to run for president. Maybe he’s intending to step up after his boy Trump finishes his second term
I read this on BG weeks ago. It’s all for money.
Beyond gross. When will it all stop!?!?
I’m shocked. Typical
Well Kayne is obviously the anti christ …the false prophet followed by many.
The Church of Tax Dodge On the Fiddle