Celebrities and public figures respond to Kanye West’s anti-semitic tweet
Kanye West has seen his social media accounts suspended after sending an anti-semitic tweet that has received widespread backlash.
Kanye West has been locked out of his Twitter and Instagram accounts after posting an anti-Semitic tweet in which he said he would go “death con 3 on Jewish people.”
The tweet also made false statements that Black people can’t be anti-Semitic because they are “Jew.” Towards the end of the long tweet, West said, “You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda,” alluding to dangerous conspiracy theories that the media is run by Jewish people.
Some right-wing Attorney commentators have come to Ye’s defense, saying that Ye is an “independent thinker.” This idea was perpetuated by the Indiana Attorney General, Todd Rokita, who accused the media of “hypocrisy” for “opposing thoughts from the norm of Hollywood.”
Rokita’s tweet has disturbed many as it paints the message of Ye’s tweet as normal discourse that should be tolerated within our society. With antisemitic hate crimes at the highest levels in decades, this type of speech from one of the largest artists in the world is extremely concerning. A hateful antisemitic radical gunned down seventeen people, leading to eleven deaths at the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018. When this type of speech is normalized or even applauded, as some on the right are currently doing, believers of this ideology can take to violence.
Celebrities responds to Ye’s tweet
Kanye West has faced a mountain of backlash in recent days after wearing a White Lives Matter t-shirt at Paris Fashion Week and making malicious comments about many of the people who criticized his choice of apparel.
One of the first celebrities to come out against West’s tweet was comedian Sarah Silverman who said she was tired of only seeing Jewish voices denounce antisemitism.
Musicians have been quick to fire back at the rapper, with singer John Legend highlighting of “independent thinking” is often a way the right describes “anti-blackness and antisemitism.”
Jack Antonoff, of Bleachers, kept his message concise.
Piers Morgan also voiced his concern about the comments made by West.
When faced with criticisms from Ye’s defenders, he said, “What’s my problem with someone tweeting that they’re going to go ‘Death Con 3 on Jewish people? If you don’t see the problem, you’re part of the problem.”
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis also pled with West to stop his tirade, referencing the Holocaust, saying, “A threat to Jewish people ended once in genocide.”