Kanye West has long been one of the entertainment industry's most polarising figures, but his recent actions, including anti-Semitic comments and white supremacist messaging, have alienated fans and business partners alike.

It's another problematic turn for the rapper and fashion mogul, once hailed as an artistic genius but whose stubborn contrarianism has seen him start conflating hate speech with free speech.

The latest controversies - which erupted during Paris fashion week and after an interview with Fox News - add to his reputation as a chaos agent, one that has tarnished his musical and fashion talent.

The 45-year-old West, who in the past has unironically compared himself to Michelangelo, broke out in 2004 with The College Dropout, building a masterful music career that saw him imbue rap with soul and electronic elements to create his lush albums.

His mercurial ways drew some critics, but his celebrity earned him a pass for years. But recently, his musings grew increasingly bombastic and controversial.

Click 'read more' for the full breakdown of Kanye's problematic timeline.