Earlier this month, we told you about the upcoming, three-part Kanye West documentary: jeen-yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogyโcoming to Netflix in February.
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However, before hitting the streamer, the film was expected to first make its debut at this yearโs virtual Sundance Film Festival. But much like with anything Ye related, an unexpected last minute twist was served just hours before the folks began viewing.
Per Complex, over the weekend, the Donda rapper took to Instagram just ahead of the filmโs Sundance premiere to demand directors Clarence โCoodieโ Smith and Chike Ozah โopen the edit roomโ so that he could give his โfinal edit and approval.
โIโm going to say this kindly for the last time,โ Ye said. โI must get final edit and approval on this doc before it releases on Netflix. Open the edit room immediately so I can be in charge of my own image. Thank you in advance.โ
Sounds reasonable right?
Yeah, well, in a completely expected twist, Coodie and Chike moved forward with business as usual, saying only: โWe have to be true to the story. We canโt sugarcoat nothing. Everybody is going to have their own opinion.โ
Additionally, per a previous interview with Variety, co-director Coodie revealed that while Yeezy is listed as a producer for the film, he was not and would not be given the final cut.
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โI said, โDude, you have to trust me.โ And he did, 100 percent,โ Coodie said, noting that โ[Westโs] team and the business people have gotten involvedโ and are โof course going to have their say.โ
As Coodie explained, however, the purpose of the documentary (or, for that matter, any doc) is not to make its subject likable, or the opposite. โWhat makes the film special is that itโs not something definitive; itโs [Yeโs] journey through my vision.โ
Look, both Coodie and Chike have been friends with Ye for a long time now. They shouldโve expected something like this to happen and honestly, vice versa for Ye. If you say you trust your friends, then trust them! Trying to stall literally at the 11th hour because you essentially want to protect your image is not how you treat your friends. But then againโYe is always gonna Yeโso I guess I canโt be too surprised.
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye West Trilogy premieres Wednesday, Feb. 16
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