Kanye West is severing ties with former associate Milo Yiannopoulos following the British influencer's deportation from the United States, according to an exclusive report by the Daily Mail. A source close to West, also known as Ye, stated that the rapper no longer wishes to be involved with Yiannopoulos and has asked him to vacate one of his properties.
Yiannopoulos was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last Thursday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The deportation comes after Yiannopoulos reportedly misrepresented his immigration status to West and his associates, claiming he had a visa and was in the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.
"Milo has not been trusted within Ye’s orbit for a long time and has only caused issues," the insider told the Daily Mail. "Ye had been warned about Milo many times."
West, 49, reportedly had no prior knowledge of Yiannopoulos's immigration issues and expressed surprise when learning of his deportation, especially given a scheduled event for West the following day.
Concerns have reportedly arisen within West's camp regarding the work Yiannopoulos performed for him, particularly concerning visa processing for international artists and models associated with West's fashion brand. West is said to be having a team review all of Yiannopoulos's past work to ensure its legality, given Yiannopoulos's own immigration status.
Yiannopoulos, who previously served as an editor for Breitbart and held roles that included handling some of West's press requests and acting as a chief of staff, rose to prominence for his controversial views. He had previously claimed to be in the U.S. on an O-1 visa, designated for individuals with extraordinary abilities, which requires employer sponsorship.
However, his tenure at Breitbart ended in 2017 following controversy over remarks that appeared to condone sexual relationships between men and boys. Yiannopoulos attributed the interpretations to "deceptive editing" and his own "sloppy phrasing."
Further complicating Yiannopoulos's status, he reportedly announced in 2021 that he was no longer homosexual and referred to his husband of four years as merely a "housemate." The specifics of his prior marriage and visa status remain unclear.
ICE confirmed in a statement that Yiannopoulos, 41, "overstayed his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws" and was issued a final order of removal after failing to appear for an immigration hearing. The agency noted a reversal of a policy that allowed undocumented immigrants to travel domestically, stating, "Under President Trump, DHS will no longer tolerate this."
Ironically, Yiannopoulos had previously expressed support for strict immigration policies, advocating for mass deportations. Despite West's historically friendly relationship with former President Trump, a source indicated that West has no intention of intervening on Yiannopoulos's behalf.
Yiannopoulos is now reportedly in the United Kingdom. The Daily Mail has reached out to Yiannopoulos for comment.