Parler Parent Company Won’t Sell Social Media To Kanye West

In October, we reported that Grammy award-winning American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer Kanye West, who also goes by Ye, has agreed to buy the social media “free speech” platform called Parler. The announcement came in a joint statement, following Kanye’s West ousting from Twitter. In a statement, the company said that “The proposed acquisition will assure Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome.” Well…

Parler’s parent company Parlement Technologies has announced that the deal will not be completed by Kanye anymore. The company said that they have parted ways with Kanye West, and it seems like the deal was never formalized beyond a memorandum of understanding. Parliament Technologies’ official statement about the development reads “Parlement Technologies has confirmed that the company has mutually agreed with Ye to terminate the intent of sale of Parler. This decision was made in the interest of both parties in mid-November. Parler will continue to pursue future opportunities for growth and the evolution of the platform for our vibrant community.”

The company also revealed that the deal had actually been terminated in mid-November. Kanye West has been in the news for different controversial reasons, from antisemitic tweets to his recent praise for Adolf Hitler and the Nazis during an interview with Alex Jones. 

Parler was founded in 2018 by John Matze and Rebekah Mercer, and presented itself as a platform looking to fight against censorship. The platform is one of the increasing “free speech” platforms that are making the rounds. According to data from Sensor Tower, Parler has a little over 250,000 monthly active users on its iOS and Android apps. Also, according to Pew Research, in a survey of more than 10,000 people, 38 percent had heard of Parler.