A police chief in Ohio has issued a pointed warning to Kanye West: "Check yourself, before you wreck yourself."
Penned by David Oliver of the Brimfield Police Department, the scathing open letter comes on the heels of West's comments about putting his life on the line for his job.
The 36-year-old star said earlier this month that the risks he takes when performing stunts as part of his ongoing "Yeezus" tour are akin to the dangers that a police officer or a soldier in a war faces in the line of duty.
Referring to moments when he performs onstage atop a moving mountain, West said the following during a Dec. 7 radio interview on "Saturday Night Online": “When I think about when I’m on the 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' and 'Coldest Winter' moment, that mountain goes really, really high. And if I slipped ... you never know. And I think about it. I think about my family, and I'm like, 'Wow, this is like being a police officer or something, in war or something."
Though West may feel that his performances are as dangerous as fighting a war, David Oliver said he's thoroughly unimpressed by the comparison.
In his epic letter to the rapper, posted on the Brimfield Police Department's Facebook page last week, Oliver urges West to "immediately abandon [his] career as a super star and join the military."
"You sir, are as misguided as they come," Oliver also writes.
The letter went viral and, as of Monday afternoon, has been liked by nearly 150,000 people on Facebook and shared by nearly 100,000.
Read part of it here:
I want to thank you for putting your life on the line for all of us every day. I know that being a rapper is tough work. I have tried to rap, and it is very difficult to keep up with the pulse of the rhyme flow…although when Ice Ice Baby comes on the radio, I can usually keep up with ol’ Vanilla. Anywho, your job is just some very dangerous work. Most people don't consider... if you rap really fast, without a chance to inhale, you could pass out and hit your head.
That last paragraph was covered in sarcasm. I’m letting you know, just so you do not think I agree with your very ignorant assessment of your career (or any other performer) as it relates to a person in the military or a police officer’s service. You sir, are as misguided as they come. I do have a suggestion for you. Since you are accustomed to danger, from your life as an international rapper, I am strongly encouraging you immediately abandon you career as a super star and join the military. After joining, I would like you to volunteer to be deployed in Afghanistan or one of the numerous other forward locations where our men an women are currently serving. When the Taliban starts shooting at you, perhaps you could stand up and let the words flow. It could be something like “I’m Kanye West, wearing a flak vest.” I’m sure they would just drop weapons and surrender. You could quite possibly end all wars, just from the enemy being star-struck.
Your line of thinking is part of the problem in the world today….which include [sic] entertainers thinking they are something more than just entertainers. I know it is supply and demand and the demand for your services is high. I get economics. What I do not get is you EVER comparing what you do for a living to our heroic military members, who are always in harm’s way… and my brother and sister police officers who have to go to work carrying weapons and wearing a bullet-proof vest to protect themselves.
Check yourself, before you wreck yourself…. Chief Oliver.
Oliver hasn't been the only member of the police or armed forces to take issue with West's hyperbolic comments. According to ABC News, a number of veterans advocacy groups have "also expressed outrage."
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