The journalist who confronted Kanye West over his comments on slavery

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2018, a tense TMZ interview turned into a viral moment of social reckoning. Van Lathan stepped onto the set to challenge Kanye West's controversial views on American slavery, a confrontation that would pivot his career from television production toward award-winning filmmaking and influential podcasting.

Van Lathan Jr., born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on April 16, 1980, rose to prominence while working as a senior producer at TMZ. His most defining moment occurred during a 2018 interview with Kanye West, who had suggested that the 400-year history of slavery in the United States might have been a 'choice.' Lathan interrupted the broadcast to express his profound hurt and to argue that West's remarks ignored the systemic threats faced by Black Americans. Born to a self-employed contractor and a loan officer, he attended McKinley High School. He later earned his bachelor's degree from Southern University.

Following his departure from TMZ in 2019, Lathan transitioned into film production. He co-founded the company Six Feet Over with Travon Free and Nicholas Maye. This venture led to the success of the Netflix film 'Two Distant Strangers,' which explored themes of police brutality and systemic racism. The movie garnered major awards, such as the 93rd Academy Awards' Best Live Action Short Film and the African-American Film Critics Association's Best Short Film.

Lathan is now a frequent digital media personality, presenting shows like 'The Midnight Boys' and 'Higher Learning with Rachel Lindsay' on The Ringer network; the latter has secured several NAACP Image Award nods. His media presence extends to television, where he serves as a panelist on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, and to documentary work, such as his appearance in 'Black Twitter: A People's History.' He also hosts the series Hip Hop Homicides, which investigates unsolved murders within the hip-hop community. Additionally, he released a memoir titled Fat, Crazy, and Tired in 2022.

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