Kanye West slavery comments: Rapper faces furious backlash after saying 'slavery sounds like a choice'

​Kanye West faced a furious backlash on social media for suggesting that hundreds of years of slavery in the US “sounds like a choice".

Fans of the rapper took to social media to vent their outrage following the star’s controversial outburst during a television interview on Tuesday.

During the TMZ broadcast, the celebrity said: “When you hear about slavery for 400 years — for 400 years? That sounds like a choice.

“Like, you were there for 400 years and it's all of y'all ... It's like we're mentally in prison.”

Shocked fans took to Twitter to voice their opposition West’s comments, with many saying the celebrity had “gone too far”.

One commenter wrote: “I am a Kanye fan. I love his music and how unique he is....but there's a limit to how much I can support someone...and I think that limit is him claiming slavery for 400 years was a choice.”

And another said: “Kanye got people believing slavery was a choice. Kanye West. Slavery. A CHOICE.

“Our ancestors were insulted, sold, raped, beaten, etc. all because they chose to be. I don’t usually let celebrity banter get under my skin but he did it.”

TMZ employee Van Lathan also voiced criticism of West’s comments and confronted him during the broadcast.

Speaking directly to the rapper, he said: “Kanye, you are entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to believe whatever you want. But there is in fact a real world, real life consequence behind everything that you just said.”

“And while you are making music and being an artist, and living the life that you have earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives.

“We have to deal with the marginalisation that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice.”

West also continued to discuss his support US President Mr Trump, saying: “I just love Trump – that’s my boy”.

It comes after the rapper last week tweeted: “You don't have to agree with Trump but the mob can't make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother.

“I love everyone. I don't agree with everything anyone does. That's what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.”