On April 8, 2025, Complex published a cover story featuring Travis Scott, who took the opportunity to reflect on his longstanding bond with Ye. During the interview, Scott affectionately dubbed Ye his “kid’s uncle,” a nod to their ties beyond music.
This comment carries extra weight given their familial connections: Ye was previously married to Kim Kardashian, while Scott shares a daughter, Stormi, and one son, Aire, with Kylie Jenner, Kim’s sister.
Scott spoke glowingly of Ye’s influence, saying,
“That guy took me in when I was young, when I was like 19. He taught me a lot about music. And not even just ‘taught’ me, but he allowed me to experience the creation of music.”
He credited Ye with helping him hone his beat-making skills and highlighted their collaborations across music, film, and fashion. After a period of rumored tension, Scott’s words seemed like an olive branch, making them all the more significant to fans and industry watchers.
Despite the warmth of Scott’s remarks, Ye’s response has stirred controversy. In a video shared on X by user @Kurrco, Ye reacted to the “kid’s uncle” comment with a statement that has drawn sharp criticism:
“It’s like, literally textbook Jewish response. You’re not talking about how I was on the original Future Bounce (‘Telekinesis’), and then you put Future on it and had me bounce.”
The phrase “textbook Jewish response” has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of Ye’s past antisemitic statements. In December 2023, he apologized to the Jewish community after a Las Vegas rant tied to his Vultures album promotion. This latest comment has cast doubt on the sincerity of that apology, prompting renewed scrutiny.
Ye’s response also sheds light on a simmering creative conflict. He accused Scott of removing him from a track titled “Future Bounce,” later renamed “Telekinesis” on Scott’s 2023 album Utopia, and replacing him with Future.
In a separate DJ Akademiks interview, Ye elaborated, claiming,
“Trav left me off his album. Took four of my songs from the ranch in Wyoming. My choruses, my exact singing lines—replace me with him, or put Future, SZA on the joints. With no explanation, the s–t just comes out.”
He cited “Telekinesis,” “God’s Country,” “Thank God,” and “Delresto (Echoes)” as tracks allegedly repurposed.
Ye and Travis Scott’s over-decade-long relationship blends mentorship and family ties. Scott has often hailed Ye as a key influence, a mentor who shaped his early career. Their bond deepened through the Kardashian-Jenner family—Ye’s marriage to Kim and Scott’s relationship with Kylie created a personal layer atop their professional one.
Though tensions have surfaced, moments of reconciliation have punctuated their history. Notably, Scott invited Ye onstage during his Rome stop on the Utopia tour, a public show of respect. In the Complex interview, Scott again extended goodwill, discussing their shared passion for fashion and Ye’s interest in affordable clothing—possibly a subtle nod to Ye’s controversial $20 Swastika-printed t-shirts.
Ye’s latest remark must be weighed against his track record of provocative statements, especially about Jewish people. His December 2023 apology, written in Hebrew, addressed “any unintended outburst caused by my words or actions” after the Las Vegas incident.
The Anti-Defamation League called it a tentative first step, noting,
“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.”
Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League had cautiously welcomed his previous apology. However, the American Jewish Committee said it lacked direct acknowledgment of harm. Now, with his recent statement, those criticisms feel newly relevant.
Meanwhile, fans wonder whether Ye’s frustrations stem from a more profound sense of betrayal or simply the emotional weight of creative partnerships gone sour.
