Rap mogul Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is acquiring Parler, the controversial social media platform that touts itself as a haven of free speech on the internet. The social media platform gained notoriety in 2021 for allegedly allowing Trump supporters to organize the Capitol Hill riots. In the wake of nationwide condemnation and inquiries, both Google and Apple booted it off their respective app stores, while Amazon pulled its web hosting services for the platform.

The app's de-listing attracted heated debates, especially from the right ideologues questioning the overarching power of Big Tech over free speech and online censorship. Parler soon returned to the Google Play Store and App Store with a promise of tighter moderation policies. After being offline for a while, the company also made strides toward building its own cloud and hosting infrastructure. While the platform has been questioned for selectively censoring people, it now has a new face to hawk its free speech formula.

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In a press release, the company behind Parler announced that it has entered "into a definitive purchase agreement" toward selling the platform to Ye. The company hopes to close the deal before 2022 comes to an end. However, the net valuation of the acquisition is not known. According to the official statement, the terms of the transaction cover the cloud services offered by parent company Parlement Technologies, data center infrastructure, and technical support resources.

Free Speech In The Hands Of A Free Speech Violator?

Parler app on an iPhone.

"In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial, we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves," Ye was quoted as saying regarding the deal. The Parler deal comes at a rather opportune time, as the rapper's account was recently blocked on Twitter and Instagram over antisemitic posts. Before that, some unhinged remarks regarding COVID-19 vaccines. In the wake of the ban, Ye went on a tirade over Big Tech censorship and the online cancel culture, which appears to have culminated in a natural partnership with Parler. Following the deal with Ye, Parler says it hopes to create an "uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome."

Parler, which boldly proclaims itself as "the premier global free speech platform" on its web client, has nearly 80 percent of its users based in the United States, according to SimilarWeb data. As for Ye, Parler's website suggests that he signed up on Oct. 17 and has amassed nearly three thousand followers. West, who has been vocal about his issues with bipolar disorder, recently had his lucrative Gap deal canceled while Adidas put their partnership under review. The rapper also had plans to contest the presidential elections against Trump, who is also advocating for a similar free speech online platform called Truth Social. It remains to be seen whether Ye can onboard his "friend" Elon Musk, who is currently engaged in a bitter Twitter acquisition drama of his own that is worth $44 billion.

Next: Parler Is Back Online With A Message For 'Both Lovers And Haters'

Source: Parler, SimilarWeb