Is it ethical to interview Kanye?

Interviewing Kanye, as conducted by Lex Fridman on his podcast, is seen as a challenging yet significant opportunity to address complex and divisive topics. The essence of such an interview, from Fridman's perspective, is to foster understanding and dialogue rather than suppression of views, regardless of how contentious they may be.

Kanye, during his interview, expressed a desire to solve significant social issues and collaborate to "free his people," indicating his interest in socio-political activism and community engineering. However, it's fundamental to ensure that the discourse remains constructive and focused on solutions rather than merely inflammatory or divisive rhetoric. Fridman's approach in interviewing controversial figures like Kanye seems driven by the belief that challenging conversations are crucial for social discourse and understanding different perspectives, regardless of how controversial the interviewee may be 1.

Therefore, the ethicality of interviewing someone like Kanye hinges on the intent and execution of the interview—aiming to address important issues constructively and allowing varied, even provocative, voices to be heard in a context that seeks understanding and potential solutions.