Kanye West called slavery a choice in comments to TMZ Tuesday.

“Slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a choice,” he said. “You were there for 400 years and it’s all of ya’ll?”

TMZ staffer Van Lathan responded to Kanye, “We have to deal with the marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said, for our people, was a choice.” Other celebrities are speaking out about his comments.

Kanye West has since clarified his comments, saying he was talking about mental enslavement. He says it stems from his conversation with TMZ about thinking freely.

Do you buy Kanye’s explanation?