RYE, NY — In what sounds like a report from satirical website The Onion or an early April’s Fool’s gag, a local media outlet is reporting that Hip Hop Mogul and International Superstar Kanye West has filed paperwork for the Westchester City of “Rye” to be renamed “Ye”. The plan is for West to purchase several properties, one as his home, another as a “music studio/creative think-tank,” and a third, a former Mrs. Green’s health food store on the Boston Post Road into a church.
West is said to be particularly interested in holding his new-age-ish Sunday Services to the renamed “Ye”.
Bruce Farnsworth & Rachel Steele, writing in the Rye Record, are reporting that Kanye West, in the middle of a divorce from Kim Kardashian, has been busy property-hunting in Rye, New York with plans that would remake Rye which was founded in 1660 and was the home to John Jay, a founding father, aviator Amelia Earhart, former First Lady Barbara Bush and is the home today of fashion designer Marc Jacobs and TV personality Megyn Kelly.
According to a source close to Mr. West, who requested anonymity, “Kanye isn’t into L.A.’s fakeness right now… People are so quick to judge him, and he’s a really sensitive dude. He needs to live somewhere where people don’t care that he’s famous.”
According to the Rye Record, West has “spoken with religious leaders of all faiths about an ‘inclusive experience that will draw crowds from across the state.’”.
“Kanye wants to move somewhere low-key where people will be receptive to the impact he can make. He has big, big plans for Ye and is highly motivated to make this happen. He’s also a Longford’s man.”
Longford’s Ice Cream sells small batch all natural premium ice cream, sorbet & gelato out of 9 retail locations in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT, including one on Purchase Street in Rye, a short walk from the Mrs. Green’s location.
Nearby Rye Playland, owned by Westchester County, already has a ride called Ye Old Mill where riders travel on a small boat as a voice tells the story of the gnomes who are protecting their jewels.
The Rye Record reports the Billionaire has offered to pay off Rye’s City and School bond debt by pledging 10 percent of his wealth in exchange for renaming “Rye” to “Ye”.
West is quoted in the Rye Record saying “You’d have to be insane not to take that kind of money to just drop a letter, right?”
Or insane to think a 360-year-old community, one of the wealthiest in the United States, would change its name to pay off bond debt it can easily pay off on its own. We will keep tracking this story until April 1st, which is, we would note, 3 weeks from today.
Will other municipalities enter a bidding war to be rename their town “Ye”?
New Rochelle City Manager City Manager Charles B. Strome: “We are not for sale.”
New Rochelle Council Member Albert Tarantino: “I would be open to a deal with Kanye on David’s Island.”
New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson on a deal with Kanye for David’s Island: “It cannot end worse than prior efforts…or maybe it can.”
Westchester County Legislator Damon Maher is open to a deal with Kanye to drop the “chester” from Westchester to create the City of Ye in the County of West.
“Whye not?” said Maher. “Just make sure we get the cash up from before Kim Kardashian takes him to the cleaners.”
Rye School District Superintendent: “I believe that the article is a joke…perhaps you should check with the Rye Record.”
Rye Mayor Josh Cohn: “Sad to report that negotiations with West have stalled, with the City Council split over the proper spelling of ‘Ye.’ (‘Yee?’) Reduced to an even number by pronoun-sensitive abstainers, the Council deadlock is expected to continue. West is reported as ‘patient, but not without limit.'”
Waiting for other replies from local Mayors, State representatives and Governor Andrew Cuomo.
UPDATE: There is a petition (of course):
Insider “solves” a mystery: The viral rumor that Kanye West is trying to get a city to rename itself ‘Ye’ appears to be completely false
Rye Reax:
The Rye Record posts Onion-like satire articles, mixed in with legitimate posts. They don’t actually label the satire.
Strange and sad to me about West and his divorce and to rename Rye, if this is true. Then,town people wants to take advantage of his quirkyness. Rye beach; Rye playland is established history. Dont you hate it when old names of places and bridges change names?
Patricia, Kanye may be be willing to pay great money if you change your last name from Frye to Ye? Lol
I agree with you Michael but I believe that he should donate that money to families who have lost their jobs or donate the money to campaign for hunger Here in America I run a food program here in the rockaways and I’ve seen proud grown men women and children who have lost their jobs standing on line waiting to get food for their families this pandemic has hurt a lot of people
Have he paid those people (YE) yet that he was working none stop?
Rich people, think they can change the world to suit their ridiculously stupid ideas. Why not spend that money to do some good. Like feed the hungry in Africa!!
This is hilarious. I grew up in Rye and didn’t know it was snobby.!it is a gorgeous place. Great town to grow up in. Many wonderful memories. Really funny to think Kanye believes he’s that powerful
😆😂🤣😆
the source article is literally satire…
Love it!
Excellent!!
Alternatively, he could buy out the private equity group that has its designs on Playland Park, and we re-name it Ye Playland!
There’s a Rye in California, go bother some other town with this nonsense. This is Rye always and forever! This town doesn’t need your money or bad press you come with.
Rye… One of the most pretentious places on the planet. The East Coast answer to fake LA. Ugh….
You need to at least make it past second grade!!!! Ha ha.
No one mentioned politics. Weird that you’re bringing this up, it’s like you’re looking for a fight.
Only Kanye comes up with the most asinine suggestions, and he’s pretty close to trump when it comes to stupid suggestions
LOL
Oops, you forgot to throw the words leftist and socialism into your predictable rant
Who could possibly hate Rye and why? I grew up there and think it is one of the most wonderful places on the planet, especially for kids! Is there a change.org petition against the name change yet?
We fought successfully builder Robert Moses Rye Oyster Bay Bridge decades ago and we can prevent this ridiculous name change too!
Great idea lol
Perhaps Kanye can purchase the unpopulated David’s Island off the coast of New Rochelle, then secede from the US and form the independent nation of Ye. However, most may say nay to Ye.
Offer for David’s Island is on the table, see update
yes
https://www.change.org/p/everyone-change-the-name-of-rye-to-ye
Rye has used it’s own city to support trump get together a let’s cancel rye and support ye! He’s brainwashed but he’ll come around
As someone who lived there for a decade, he should know that there are a bunch of woke” cancel culture loving women there who will probably be organizing a protest against him just for wearing that trump hat. I know from experience.
What a weird thing to hate…
It would still be the same place, just the name changes. So if you hate Rye you would still hate Ye.
Is there a petition we can sign in support of Kanye? I hate Rye!
Yes there is a petition, link in article towards the end
Yes, it’s a hideous pretentious place and deserves Kanye West as a resident.
He should come to seven oaks lane!