'The Absence Of Thought': TMZ Writer Blasts Kanye West Over Slavery Comments During Interview

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) -- Following a series of controversial tweets praising President Donald Trump last week, Kanye West took to the TMZ newsroom Tuesday to talk his support for the president, slavery and free thought, only to find himself wrapped up in a war of words with a TMZ journalist after the musician made comments suggesting that slavery was "a choice."

"When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years? That sounds like a choice," West told TMZ's Harvey Levin. "Like, you was there for 400 years and it's all of y'all?"

Kanye also sounded off about his support for Trump, saying: "I just love Trump, that's my boy," adding that "Trump is one of rap's favorite people."

In the "TMZ Live" clip, West turns to those working in the newsroom and asks: "Do you feel that I'm being free and I'm thinking free?"

"I actually don't think you're thinking anything," TMZ writer Van Lathan said, as he stood up from his desk to respond to West's question. "I think what you're doing right now is actually the absence of thought."

Lathan went on to elaborate, saying:

"You're entitled to believe whatever you want, but there is fact and real world, real life consequence behind everything you just said. And while you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you've earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives. We have to deal with the marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice. Frankly, I'm disappointed, I'm appalled and brotha, I'm unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something that, to me, is not real."

West is then seen approaching Lathan and can be heard apologizing before the clip ends.

Needless to say, social media lit up with responses to West's comments.

Tuesday evening, Kanye took to Twitter once again, posting a series of tweets elaborating on comments he made while at TMZ.

"To make myself clear," one of West's tweets reads, "Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will."

West's controversial comments come just one week after the rapper praised President Donald Trump in a slew of tweets, referring to Trump as his "brother" and saying they "are both dragon energy."

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