BEIJING (SCMP): Bundles of wheatgrass US rapper Kanye West stood on during his concert in China have gone on sale online for 300 yuan (US$43) each.
West, who is also a music producer with 24 Grammy Awards to his name, is extremely popular in China where fans affectionately call him “Uncle Kan”.
His relationships, with ex-wife Kim Kardashian and current spouse Bianca Censori, as well as their bold fashion choices, regularly trend on mainland social media.
Years ago, he collaborated with Adidas to design the Yeezy training shoes, sparking a fashion craze and making them highly sought after in China.
In early September, West’s concert in Haikou in the southern island province of Hainan was announced on Instagram and took the internet by storm.
Within just three minutes, 30,000 tickets were sold out, leaving 225,000 people on a waiting list.
It was Kanye’s first performance in China in 16 years.
The celebrity’s deep connection with China dates back to 1987 when, at the age of 10, he moved to Nanjing in the eastern province of Jiangsu with his mother, Donda West, a university professor participating in an exchange programme.
There, West went to primary school, where he learned martial arts, how to use chopsticks, and even once break-danced for his classmates, earning him a lamb skewer in return.
In 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, West advocated for China during an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
“ I love China. It’s not China’s fault that disease. It’s not the Chinese people’s fault. They’re God’s people also. I love China. It changed my life. It changed my perspective, it gave me such a wide perspective,” he said.
When news of his upcoming concert in China broke, a fan jokingly said: “This excellent young student from Nanjing returns to his motherland after studying in the US.”
Another person said: “I can’t go to the concert, but I support the legendary Nanjing elementary school student Kanye West.”
On Sept 15, West performed at Haikou Wuyuanhe Stadium in a wheat-filled arena before a huge crowd.
The event was such a hit that local tourism officials announced an additional show on Sept 28, the tickets for which quickly sold out.
Shortly after the concert, listings for “wheat stepped on by Kanye” appeared on Xianyu, a major second-hand platform in China owned by Alibaba, which also owns the South China Morning Post, with prices ranging from 49 to 300 yuan (US$7 to US$43).
One seller advertised: “This straw was pulled from Kanye’s path as he walked from the entrance to the top of the wheat hill. I can provide photos and videos as proof.”
Another said: “Kanye-stepped-on wheat, only one bundle left. One bundle for 300 yuan, or available by stalk. The second show is coming soon, bring this with you and you’ll be the coolest guy there.”
On Sept 20, a member of staff from the concert venue told Zhengzai News that the wheat used at the event was actually plastic and had been spray-painted to appear real.
The listings shocked many and triggered a heated discussion on mainland social media.
One person said: “Oh my god, Kanye’s not stepping on wheat, he’s stepping on cash!”
“I can even imagine people waiting outside the restroom for Kanye, selling used tissue paper as collectibles,” quipped another.
A third person added: “How much alcohol do they have to drink to get dizzy enough to buy this wheat?” - South China Morning Post
