The US rapper Kanye West wants to buy the right-wing online network Parler. "In a world where conservative opinions are considered controversial, we must ensure we have the right to express ourselves freely," the company behind Parler quoted the musician as saying in a statement Monday. Parler had established itself in recent years, particularly among supporters of former US President Donald Trump.

Parler initially did not provide any information on the financial scope of the planned takeover. The transaction should therefore be completed in the course of the third quarter.

Founded in 2018, Parler gained massive popularity after Trump was banned from Twitter and other platforms as a result of the January 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol. According to the network, it aims to "strengthen the future of freedom of expression" and to lead the "fight" against "big technology corporations, abusive government, censorship and cancel culture".

Kanye West had recently also been restricted in his use of well-known online networks because of posts classified as anti-Semitic. West's account was blocked for violating the Twitter rules, a spokeswoman for the short message service told the AFP news agency on Sunday. The Instagram parent company Meta, in turn, said that the rapper's posts in the online service had been removed due to rule violations and that his access to his account had been restricted.

Earlier this month, West sparked displeasure at Paris Fashion Week with a shirt that read "White Lives Matter." The slogan "Black Lives Matter" became famous during anti-racist demonstrations in the United States. West then responded to rapper Diddy, who had criticized him for the t-shirt, on Twitter that "Jewish people" instigated the criticism.

In recent years, West, who suffers from bipolar disorder, has repeatedly caused a stir with bizarre performances.