ViacomCBS has parted ways with Nick Cannon amid backlash over a podcast interview where he talked about the “power of melanated people,” and called White people “true savages.”
Cannon, who referenced Min. Louis Farrakhan and referred to Black people as the “true Hebrews,” was called anti-semitic after a clip of the podcast interview with Public Enemy’s Professor Griff circulated the web on Tuesday (July 14).
Nick Cannon’s Comments About Race & White People Garners Mixed Reactions. pic.twitter.com/KPvFlNKld6
— theJasmineBRAND (@thejasminebrand) July 14, 2020
“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism. We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’ on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,” the company said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
“While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him.”
In a lengthy follow-up statement posted on his social media accounts, Cannon denounced hate speech. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart or malice intentions. I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric,” he wrote. “We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote understanding.”
Cannon added that the Black and Jewish communities have both faced oppression, prejudice, and persecution for ”thousands of years,” and continue to work to “overcome these obstacles.” He went on to state that “African Americans and The people of the Jewish community” have collaborated on “some of the best, most revolutionary work we know today.”
The radio personality said that he advocates for “people’s voice to be heard openly fairly and candidly,” and encouraged continued education in “today’s conversations about anti-racism and social justice.” He also welcomed experts, clergymen, and others to hold him accountable and correct any of his statements that have been “projected as negative.”
In the meantime, Cannon said that he’s holding himself accountable and takes “full responsibility” for his words. “Because MY intentions are to only show that as a beautiful human species we have way more commonalities than differences.”
Check below for Cannon’s full statement, and podcast episode.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=w0HkK-AmOL8