Ye continues to promote conspiracy theories and antisemitic tropes. Ye made a series of comments on Revolt TV’s “Drink Champs”, which was then removed on October 16. He repeatedly blamed Jewish media and Jewish Zionists for many alleged misdeeds and stated that Jews have “owned the Black voice” and that the Jewish community, particularly in the music business, “will take us and milk our bodies till we die.” Ye also mentioned that he was “#MeTooing” the Jewish culture. I am saying that y’all need to stand up and confess what you have been doing.
Ye reaffirmed his antisemitism in an interview with Chris Cuomo, October 17, on NewsNation. He criticized the “Jewish underground media Mafia” and claimed that every celebrity has Jewish people under their contract. Ye reiterated his earlier defense of Black people being antisemitic on “Drink Champs” as well as “Cuomo,” stating that “we, Semite, and we Jew, so that I can’t become antisemitic.”
Antisemitic extremists have embraced Ye’s comments. Ye was mentioned by Student Minister Ishmael Mohammed in a sermon he delivered on October 16 for the Nation of Islam’s annual Holy Day of Atonement. Ye was also praised by extremist Black Hebrew Israelite groups over the weekend for spreading their teachings to more people. Ye’s comments have been used by other extremist groups such as White Lives Matter or the Goyim Defense League to advance their agendas and incite new propaganda campaigns.
ORIGINAL POSTED: October 14, 2022
Ye, who was formerly Kanye West has used his media and social influence to promote antisemitic tropes of Jewish power, intimidation, and control.
After his decision to wear “White Lives Matter” shirt during Paris Fashion Week, Ye joined Fox News’ Tucker Carlson on October 6. Ye made offensive and conspiratorial statements about Jewish people and Jewish identity during the interview. Some of it was not aired that evening. Ye claimed that Jews were actually Black people. He said that when Ye refers to Jews, he means “the 12 Lost Tribes of Judah and the blood of Christ who the people known under the name Black are [sic]” and suggested that Planned Parenthood was the result of a collaboration between Margaret Sanger and the KKK “to control the Jew [i.e. Ye also stated that it was impossible to call him antisemitic because he is a Jew as a Black person.
Ye also stated to Carlson that Jared Kushner arranged peace deals between Arab countries and Israel only “to make money.”
Ye posted screenshots of text messages to Instagram the next day. He implied that Jews were using their control over his peers in music industry to intimidate Ye and defiantly stated that “no one could threaten or influence” him.
Ye said that Jewish people had “toyed” with him and that they “tried blackball anyone who opposes their agenda.” Twitter later deleted the tweet.
Although Ye has been a subject of controversy and antisemitism in the recent years, this dangerous rhetoric could help to spread false and antisemitic narratives that are shared by extremist groups.
Questioning Jewish Identity
Although Ye has not shown any evidence of his membership in an organized extremist group or that he views himself as such, his comments recently are similar to antisemitic tropes, such as his assertion that Black people are Jews, and therefore cannot be considered antisemitic.
Followers of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement believe that Black people are, rather than Jewish people of today, the true descendants of biblical Israelites. To emphasize this distinction, BHI adherents who reject Judaism, and are not the same people as Black Jews or Jews, refer to themselves “true Jews”. This belief implies that modern Jews, which are a small minority of people of color, do not have any historical connection with the ancient Israelites as described in the Bible.
Some BHI sects are openly and violently antisemitic. Their adherents declare explicitly that some members of the mainstream Jewish community have been “imposters” or “fake Jews” and that they have used tricks and other nefarious techniques to convince the world that Israel is their legitimate children and steal the religious heritage from Black people. This “fake Jews narrative” is popular because it posits that modern Jews are part a global conspiracy to oppress nonJews.
Ye’s defense of his antisemitic comments – that he can’t be antisemitic just because Black people are Jews– is highly reminiscent of ideas held by both BHI followers and members of the Nation of Islam, which is the largest Black nationalist group in the country and has a long history of bigotry and antisemitism. These groups see Black people as “semitic” and believe they cannot inherently be antisemitic.
Ye claims that Planned Parenthood was established to harm or control the Black/Jewish population. This claim has been promoted by antisemites and shares similarities to other conspiracy theories regarding Planned Parenthood. For example, the Nation of Islam promotes the belief in a “depopulation agenda” by claiming that the U.S. government has collaborated with Jewish people. The NOI specifically criticised both Sanger, and Planned Parenthood in relation to this so-called “agenda.”
Jewish Control of the Media & Recording Industry
Ye also used the antisemitic belief in Jewish people being disproportionately powerful and having control over the media, which includes the music industry. This notion has been used in the discourse of Black activists and performers in the past. It is also a popular talking point in extremist groups as demonstrated by narratives promoted the Nation of Islam. This trope isn’t unique to NOI. It has been promoted repeatedly by its notoriously antisemitic leader Louis Farrakhan.
Farrakhan has made many antisemitic claims throughout his 40-year tenure at the NOI. He accuses Jewish people of controlling the entertainment sector — particularly rap and hip hop — and using that control to exploit Black artists. He also frequently mentions in his speeches . Over the years, many articles have been published by the NOI’s Final Call newspaper. They highlight the “iron grip” that Jewish businessmen have over our most talented and popular Black artists and defend Ye for resisting this so-called Jewish power.
Claims about Jewish Money and Greed
Ye’s assertion that Jared Kushner’s actions in relations with Israel and Arab countries were motivated by his desire to make a profit corroborates antisemitic tropes regarding alleged Jewish control over money or financial institutions. This stereotype is reinforced by Ye’s vague suggestion that prominent Jewish holidays are associated with “financial engineering”. Ye’s comments about Jews, holidays, and the monetary implications of these two give credence to the false notion that Jews can use their financial power for evil purposes due to their stronghold on financial institutions.
Past Remarks, and Association with Known Antisemites
Ye made statements in the past about Jewish power, including comments in 2013, claiming that Jews are better-connected than Blacks and have therefore an unfair advantage. These statements were later denounced and defended by Farrakhan who said that Ye “told truth ” and “said nothing wrong”. I ain’t finna apologize.”
Ye and Farrakhan also expressed mutual respect for and support one another at other times. Ye visited the NOI headquarters at Mosque Maryam, Chicago in 2005 to publicly support the Millions More Movement. Ye’s 2015 song, “All Day”, includes a line that describes Farrakhan as “sensei”. Also, in 2015, Ye attended an Farrakhan event in Los Angeles. After Farrakhan had been criticized for his political views, Farrakhan supported Ye again in 2018.
Public Support and Extremist Responses
Ye’s latest remarks prompted prominent conspiracy theorists, extremist organizations, and antisemitic influentialrs to quickly leverage his words to support their beliefs and express support.
A Twitter account appears to belong to a conspiracy and antisemitic social media influencer NOI, RizzaIslam. It posted: “The same ones that terminated #KanyeWestfrom #Twitter were the same ones that were involved in the slavery of our people,” before claiming that Black people can’t be considered antisemitic simply because they are “true Jews” (or “true Hebrews).
On the Hip Hop News Uncensored podcast, NOI Executive Council member and Student Minister stated that Kanye West was speaking a lot and is triggering a very dangerous enemy…I can see him – and with good reason-threatening to go DEFCON 3. on Jewish execs in Hollywood. The Wizards of Oz responsible for the destruction of hip-hop have been the Jewish execs of Hollywood.
On a separate podcast episode, Nuri Muhammad, NOI Student Minister, also supported Ye. She stated that Black people are the true Semites, so to be Antisemitic is to be Anti-Yourself. They use this term to shut down people and put you in a social prison where you won’t have any platform for expression.
During a livestream held on October 10, the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge leaders, an extremist BHI Sect, defended Ye. They linked his comments to group teachings about Black people being “true Jews.” They are not the Jews. You understand? You understand? He’s Semitic!”
