Kanye’s defence of Elon Musk has become the new ‘Leave Britney Alone’ meme

Kanye West – or ‘Ye’, as he now likes to be known – made a surprise appearance at a Detroit art school, where he launched into an impassioned albeit scattered defence of billionaire Elon Musk.

The rapper appeared at the College for Creative Studies where he made nice with students and looked at their projects.

And then, in a bizarre move, he climbed on top of a table and proceeded to praise Elon Musk, who recently resigned as chairman of his company and paid out $40 million in a securities fraud settlement.

The scientist has had a difficult few months: Azealia Banks accused him of tweeting while on acid (he denied this happened) and provoked the ire of investors by his appearance on a live web show with US comedian Joe Rogan, where he smoked marijuana and drank alcohol.

Kanye wants everyone to leave him alone.

"Elon Musk, I don’t give a f**k who’s over at his house," West announced on the table, seemingly a reference to the Banks debacle.

But it was his next statement that made the Internet sit up:

Leave that man the f**k alone – leave that man the f**k alone.

Does that sound familiar?

Yep. The Chris Crocker 'Leave Britney Alone' meme that swept across 2007 has lost its crown.

Other people noticed that Leave Britney Alone has been replaced by Leave Elon Musk Alone, too...

Some people have cancelled Kanye.

But mostly people are baffled by his erratic behaviour.

Is it an immersive performance? A parody? Has Ye activated Album Mode?

Who knows.