Kanye West Launches $200 Yeezy Pods Footwear After Apology For Anti-Semitic Remarks

Controversial rapper Kanye West has debuted new footwear for his Yeezy brand called the Yeezy Pods.

The ex-billionaire and fashion mogul had previously informed fans that the socks would soon be available and called it the "foldable future of footwear." Since the unveiling of the footwear, fans have slammed its $200 price, saying it's too expensive for the average buyer.

West recently made headlines for issuing an apology to Jews for the anti-Semitic remarks he has made over the last few years.

Taking to Instagram, West announced that his new footwear innovation, called the Yeezy Pods, is now available for pre-order. The fashion mogul shared the news through a brief animation video on Instagram, showcasing how the distinctive piece can be transformed into a compact, storable format and then unfolded into a wearable form.

The footwear is reminiscent of knee-high black socks with a slender sole for added protection. Individuals interested in acquiring a pair can choose from three available sizes (1, 2, and 3) at a price of $200.

In the last few months, the Yeezy Pod has already become a personal favorite for West. He has been spotted adorning his feet with the footwear during casual outings and even on his recent international trip with his wife, Bianca Censori.  Whether this is the only iteration or just the first drop remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: West's latest creation is turning heads.

The unveiling of the footwear comes after the rapper made an announcement about the debut date and described the item as the "foldable future of footwear."

Both then and now, social media users slam the price of the footwear as being too expensive for the average buyer.

One X user said, "Who is paying $185 for a pair of socks, lol?" while another commented, "$200 for some tall socks?"

A second person said, "Ye you want us to pay $200 for some compression socks!" while a third remarked, "Kanye, I am NOT buying 200 dollar socks."

However, amid the negative remarks, some fans supported the creativity behind the Yeezy Pods.

One fan said, "Welp…Better these in your purse than that struggle walk some of yall do from concerts to the car. It's an investment, lol. I see the vision!"

Another person commented, "This is actually great for ladies who wear high heels and then their feet start hurting and you [are] walking around barefoot."

The new footwear is the first product the rapper has debuted on his Yeezy brand since he parted ways with Addidas over the backlash from his antisemitic remarks last year. Fans can recall that "Donda" crooner garnered flak for making a post about going "Death Con 3 on Jewish People."

Shortly after the remarks made headlines, Addidas released a statement terminating their long-term deal with the rapper.

"Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," the footwear company said in the statement, per Page Six. "Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous, and they violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect, and fairness."

Additionally, the rapper also lost deals with the likes of Gap and Balenciaga, which amounted to millions of dollars in losses.

In the months that followed since getting dumped by many of his collaborators, West continued to subtly trigger the Jewish community with some of his social media posts and comments in interviews.

However, he recently made a U-turn by releasing an apology statement on his Instagram page that seemed to have been written in Hebrew.

In his apology, West said it was not his "intent to hurt or disrespect" the Jewish community with his "unplanned outbursts" and that he "very much regrets any pain" his actions caused.

He added, "I am committed to starting with myself and learning from this experience to ensure greater sensitivity and understanding In the future. Your forgiveness is important to me, and I am committed to making amends and promoting unity."

Following his apology, the Jewish organization, Anti-Defamation League, released a statement, noting that West's apology is a step in the right direction.

They said, "After causing untold damage by using his vast influence and platform to poison countless minds with vicious antisemitism and hate, an apology in Hebrew may be the first step on a long journey towards making amends to the Jewish community and all those who he has hurt. Ultimately, actions will speak louder than words but this initial act of contrition is welcome."