John Legend looks unfazed after Kanye West accuses him of 'manipulating my free thought'

Published: 01:26 BST, 27 April 2018 | Updated: 02:15 BST, 27 April 2018

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He was thrust into the center of Kanye West's latest Twitter rant after the rapper posted their private text messages online and accused him of 'manipulating my free thought.'

But John Legend looked little fazed as he stepped out into New York City that same day.

The Ordinary People hit-maker, 39, appeared cool and collected in his brown suede jacket and black jeans during an outing in the Big Apple on Thursday.

Unfazed: John Legend looked little fazed as he stepped out into New York City on Thursday, the day Kanye West posted their text messages online and accused him of 'manipulating my free thought'

John appeared without his wife Chrissy Teigen or their daughter Luna as he stepped out with a pair of sunglasses propped upon his face.

While John has been busy promoting his new single A Good Night online, on Thursday he made headlines for a different reason after his old friend Kanye posted their text messages online.

In the text messages, John urged Kanye to reconsider aligning himself with President Donald Trump, after the rapper showed his support for the politician during his lengthy Twitter tirade on Wednesday, even posting an autographed MAGA hat online.

Donald was clearly a fan of Kanye's message, re-tweeting him and adding, 'Thank you Kanye, very cool!'

Getting political: Kanye West voiced his support for President Donald Trump on Wednesday, and even shared an autographed MAGA hat online (pictured in Calabasas on Thursday)

Making waves: While John has been busy promoting his new single A Good Night online, on Thursday he made headlines for a different reason after his old friend Kanye posted their text messages online (pictured 2015)

'You're way too powerful and influential to endorse who he is and what he stands for,' John, who has been vocal about his distaste for the 45th president, wrote in his text message. 'As you know, what you say really means something to your fans.

'They are loyal to you and respect your opinion. So many people who love you feel so betrayed right now because they know the harm that Trump's policies cause, especially to people of color. Don't let this be part of your legacy. You're the greatest artist of our generation.'

Kanye replied, 'I love you John and I appreciate your thoughts. You bringing up my fans or my legacy is a tactic based on fear used to manipulate my free thought.'

It did not end there as Kanye posted the continuation of their conversation as John urged him to: 'Think freely. Think with empathy and context too. Your words and actions have consequences. Much love.'

'What you say really means something to your fans': In the text messages, John urged Kanye to reconsider aligning himself with President Donald Trump, after the rapper showed his support for the politician during his lengthy Twitter tirade on Wednesday, even posting an autographed MAGA hat online

John even poked fun at Kanye for posting their private messages on the popular micro-blogging site as he took the opportunity to plug his latest track called A Good Night.

The talented crooner wrote: 'And since you're posting texts, let me add that I have a new single out haha'.

Kanye explained why he made the decision to post their text thread to show that there was a contentious but respectful discourse between the two of them.

Crack up: Legend even poked fun at Kanye for posting their private messages on the popular micro-blogging site as he took the opportunity to plug his latest track called A Good Night

He said: 'I tweeted the John text to show that there are people around me that disagree with me and voice their opinion. I respect everyone's opinion but I stand my ground.'

Kanye, who also said in his Twitter rant that he was a fan of Hillary Clinton, went on to explain that he wanted to show people that he was empathetic as empathy isn't the first thing people think when it comes to a Trump supporter.

Kanye wrote: 'I really appreciate this dialogue with John Legend because I'm actually very empathetic. Im still the kid from the telethon. I feel when people think of MAGA they don't think of empathy.'

'We DO speak up': John's wife Chrissy Teigen referred to what was going on with Kanye as she insisted that if there is an issue with someone, the conversation goes to them directly and not social media

The 'telethon' the All Of The Lights hitmaker seemed to be referring to was the infamous live TV Hurricane Katrina fundraiser in 2006 in which Kanye declared: 'George Bush don't care about black people.'

John's wife Chrissy Teigen referred to what was going on with Kanye as she insisted that if there is an issue with someone, the conversation goes to them directly and not social media.

The 32-year-old model wrote: 'Everyone keeps asking me to comment on s***. Comment on psycho Tami Lasagna, whom I refuse to give the joy to, say something about RHOA, speak up about kanye.

Speaking up: The 32-year-old model wrote: 'Everyone keeps asking me to comment on s***. Comment on psycho Tami Lasagna, whom I refuse to give the joy to, say something about RHOA, speak up about kanye' (pictured earlier this week with her husband in New York)

'When it comes to people we know, we DO speak up. To THEM. not on Twitter. And sometimes, I guess it makes it to Twitter.'

John took umbrage with Kanye's tweets supportive of Donald, and shared his thoughts to counter his longtime friend.

'The defining trait of Trump's campaign and political profile was his embrace of white supremacy. He made it clear every time he spoke,' the Green Light hitmaker tweeted on Wednesday.

'Some serious cognitive dissonance to ignore that for the other x% you might find appealing. I guess I agree with >1% of anyone's thoughts though,' he added.

Hitting back: John took umbrage with the series of posts as he shared his thoughts to counter his longtime friend on Wednesday

The Glory singer earlier also posted a series of tweets critical of West's support of Trump.

Legend tweeted that he imagines 'there's some comfort in imagining a future without racism and projecting that onto the present. Thinking if we just deny the truth, it doesn't exist. If history is erased, we don't have to deal with its consequences.'

He added, however, that 'far too many people don't have the luxury of closing their eyes and ears. They feel it in their lives and can't act like what they see and know doesn't exist.

'They know their family was destroyed by deportation or incarceration. They know their loved one was denied safe harbor because of their religion. They know their son or daughter was shot because their skin color evoked fear.

'They see the statistics about black applications for real estate or loans or employment being turned away because their name was Jamal and not James.

'I love that great, brilliant artists have the power to imagine a better future. But artists can't be blind to the truth,' he concluded.

Taking a stand: He added, however, that 'far too many people don't have the luxury of closing their eyes and ears. They feel it in their lives and can't act like what they see and know doesn't exist'