Balenciaga breaks ties with Kanye West

Kanye West, known as Ye, has made a series of controversial statements in recent weeks

Kanye West, known as Ye, has made a series of controversial statements in recent weeks

Paris-based fashion house Balenciaga has ended ties with rapper Kanye West following a recent run of controversial statements, including an outburst denounced as anti-Semitic, according to fashion news site WWD."Balenciaga has no longer any relationship nor any plans for future projects related to this artist," Balenciaga's parent company Kering told WWD.  It follows weeks of particularly erratic behaviour from West -- now known as Ye.He made a surprise appearance earlier this month for his brand Yeezy at Paris Fashion Week, sporting the controversial slogan "White Lives Matter", widely considered a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Balenciaga and Kering did not respond to requests for comment from AFP.  Ye appeared as a model in Balenciaga's most recent Paris show last month, wearing a military-style outfit in a mud pit.