By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, October 9 (Reuters) – Kanye West’s Twitter and Instagram accounts were restricted over the weekend, with social media platforms claiming to have deleted the rapper’s posts after netizens condemned them as anti-Semites.

He was first banned from his Instagram by Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. META.OFriday after which he took to Twitter, where he tweeted on Saturday for the first time in two years.

West’s first Twitter post since 2020 was a blurry photo of rapper and Meta Platforms founder Mark Zuckerberg singing karaoke. The tweet read: “Look at this Mark How you gone kick me instagram.”

West then tweeted, “You played with me and tried to test anyone who opposes your agenda.” The post, in which he said he was not anti-Semitic, was removed by Twitter for violating its policies. His account has also been locked, a Twitter spokesperson confirmed on Sunday.

Step by Twitter Inc TWTR.N locking the rapper’s account was notable as billionaire Elon Musk, who said he would buy Twitter and calls himself a free speech absolutist, welcomed West’s return to the platform and responded to a message from the rapper, tweeting, “Welcome to Twitter my friend!”

West has also posted erratic online posts in the past. Earlier this year he was suspended Instagram for 24 hours after directing racial slurs at comedian Trevor Noah.

Before taking to Twitter early Saturday, West, who legally changed his name to Ye, had his Instagram account suspended after a since-deleted post in which he invoked anti-Semitic tropes, accusing a musician of being controlled by “the band Jewish people.”

The company said Saturday Temporary restrictions on posting, commenting and messaging have been imposed on West’s Instagram account.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Diane Craft)

((Kanishka.Singh@thomsonreuters.com; +12024508248;))

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