Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is once again at the center of controversy following the release of the provocative cover art for his newly announced album Cuck. The image—featuring two members of the Ku Klux Klan in full white robes locked in a seemingly tender embrace—has sparked outrage, not only for its disturbing historical implications but also because the photographer who captured the moment says it was used without his permission.

The photograph, titled The wedding of two members of the KKK in a barn in rural America, was taken by Peter van Agtmael, a renowned photojournalist with Magnum Photos, and depicts a real KKK wedding in Tennessee in 2015. The image forms part of a series documenting America’s deep-rooted racial and social tensions. Van Agtmael confirmed to ARTnews that neither Ye nor anyone from his team contacted him or Magnum to license the image for the album cover.

“This use was unauthorized,” van Agtmael stated bluntly, adding that a legal process is now underway to address the apparent copyright infringement. The photo is a deeply unsettling tableau of American extremism—set at a barn wedding where the newlyweds, descendants of Klan members, celebrated amid Confederate flags, disturbing decorations, and overt white supremacist symbolism. The couple reportedly dined on soggy fast-food roast beef sandwiches and posed with their dog Leroy, who wore a custom KKK robe bearing a “White Power” patch.

In one particularly grotesque detail from the event, the barn featured a poster of Anne Frank captioned “World Hide and Go Seek Champion, 1942–1944”—a sickening juxtaposition that underscores the hateful ideology of the attendees. After the ceremony, the group gathered in the backyard to light a burning cross while singing “Amazing Grace,” a spiritual song with deep African-American roots.

Van Agtmael’s work, while stark and disturbing, is intended to document and expose America’s most extremist and marginalized communities—not glamorize or sensationalize them. His decision to capture the KKK wedding was rooted in photojournalistic integrity and a desire to confront viewers with the uncomfortable truths of American society.

Ye’s apparent co-opting of the photo for an album cover titled Cuck—a term often used in far-right and incel communities to shame perceived weakness or subservience—raises not only legal questions but serious ethical concerns as well. The pairing of such a loaded title with the image of a real hate-fueled event may amplify the trauma of those affected by the ideologies represented.

Critics have long scrutinized Ye for his increasingly erratic and incendiary public behavior, including past controversies involving antisemitic comments, his support of white nationalist figures, and his polarizing fashion choices. This latest incident further cements his place in cultural discourse as an artist who blurs the lines between provocation, exploitation, and irresponsibility.

Magnum Photos has declined further comment, citing the ongoing legal process, but industry experts suggest Ye could face substantial financial penalties if the court rules in favor of van Agtmael. Additionally, backlash from both the art world and the broader public is mounting, with some fans and fellow artists calling for the album to be pulled or revised.

As of now, Ye has not issued a public statement in response to the accusations.