Macy Gray wants to collaborate with Kanye West despite controversies: 'So much hype'
Most of the industry publicly condemned him after his disturbing antisemitic remarks in recent years, but one major artist is still a 'big fan'.
Bronte Coy
2 min read
June 1, 2026 - 10:45PM
In the nearly three decades since her breakout hit I Try, Macy Gray has joined forces with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ariana Grande, will.i.am, Fatboy Slim and Snoop Dogg. But the next artist on her dream collaboration list is far more controversial.
Speaking to news.com.au to announce her upcoming Australian tour, the 58-year-old American R&B singer revealed that she would love to work with Kanye West next.
'I'm still a big fan of Kanye. I just love the way he makes records,' Gray told news.com.au.
Once one of the most influential artists and producers of his generation, West – who has in the past publicly declared he identifies as a Nazi – is now more known for his offensive behaviour and antisemitic tirades than his music.
Gray said she was still a 'big fan' of the rapper. As a result of his disturbing actions in recent years, West has been shunned by the majority of the music industry and many fans, but clearly Gray is not among them.
'Yeah, [but] I think if you go on social media, it looks like … there's so much hype, you know, but I think the average person really just wants to dance, you know, and sing songs,' she said.
'You know what I mean? I don't think most people worry about that kind of stuff, you know, you're kind of forced into it. 'Oh my god, so and so isn't cool this week, so everybody needs to be mad at him' … But I don't think most people really care.'
However, Gray then conceded: 'But I could be wrong.'
Just last month, West was forced to pull out of Britain's Wireless Festival, causing the entire event's cancellation, after the UK government blocked his entry over his outbursts. It came after the Australian government made the same decision following the release last May of his song Heil Hitler, which glorified the Nazi leader.
West sparked further controversy by wearing a hood with a striking resemblance to Klan attire at his 'Vultures' album listening event in Miami, held during Art Basel in 2023. Shortly afterwards, West, who is married to Melbourne-born designer Bianca Censori, said he was 'done with anti-Semitism' and re-released the song as Hallelujah, with earlier Nazi references replaced with lyrics about Christianity.
He also infamously told TMZ in 2018 that the enslavement of African-Americans may have been a 'choice', wore an outfit with 'White Lives Matter' emblazoned on it to Paris Fashion Week, and attempted to sell swastika-branded clothing online last February.
In October 2022, he was widely condemned after posting on social media that he was 'going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE … You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.' In January this year, he published a full-page apology to the Jewish community in the Wall Street Journal over his previous offensive remarks, declaring that he was 'not a Nazi or an antisemite', attributing his behaviour to a severe manic episode and his bipolar disorder.
Gray has just announced she will be touring Australia later this year. Her comments on West come as she prepares to embark on her largest-ever tour of Australia and New Zealand. The 21-show Aussie starts at Hamer Hall in Melbourne on September 11, before Gray and her band head to major cities and regional towns across Australia, finishing up in WA's Margaret River on October 24. The Encore Tour comes two years after her 2024 tour in celebration of the 25th anniversary of her debut album, On How Life Is, which saw her breakout single, I Try, reach number one locally.
