Kanye West Justifies Selling Confederate Flag Concert T-Shirts: 'I Just Think People Look Cool In It'

Kanye West is known for his fashion-forward style. But some of the rapper’s concert merchandise isn’t getting praise from amateur critics.

Specifically, many fans have taken issue with West’s decision to sell Confederate-themed merchandise for his "Yeezus" Tour. The items include tote bags and T-shirts that include the Confederate flag on them – one featuring a skull and one showing the Grim Reaper enveloped in the flag. MTV News also reports that West’s new Los Angeles pop up shop features a Confederate flag hanging on its back wall above a red dirt bike.

Many people have expressed outrage at West’s using the highly controversial Civil War image on his tour merchandise. During an interview with Los Angeles' 97.1 AMP Radio on Tuesday, West attempted to explain his "artistic" reasoning. “React how you want. Any energy you got is good energy. You know the Confederate flag represented slavery in a way — that's my abstract take on what I know about it," he said. "So I made the song 'New Slaves.' I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It's my flag now. Now what you going to do?"

“I just think people look cool in it. They look nice. And it’s colorless also," Kanye added. "It’s super-hood and super-white boy approved at the same time. That’s really what my style has always been." But his creative license doesn’t seem to be enough to sway people upset by his choice in using the flag, with many taking to Twitter to express their disgust in the designs -- $35 you can be fairly certain they won’t be handing over to Mr. West.