Nick Cannon Blasted Over ‘Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories and Anti-Jewish Rhetoric’

Nick Cannon is being criticized for statements he made during a recent conversation with former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin on a June 30 episode of his podcast, Cannon’s Class.

According to Forbes, the discussion between Cannon and Professor Griff was immersed in what is being described as “anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and anti-Jewish rhetoric.” Professor Griff was kicked out of Public Enemy in 1989 because he was accused of making anti-Semitic comments during an interview with the Washington Post.

Cannon said in the interview that “it’s never hate speech; you can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people. When we are the same people who they want to be. That’s our birthright.” He also stated that “we are the true Hebrews.”

Through his Facebook account, Canon released this statement after receiving backlash.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice [sic] intentions. I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric. We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding.

“The Black and Jewish communities have both faced enormous hatred, oppression[,] persecution[,] and prejudice for thousands of years and in many ways have and will continue to work together to overcome these obstacles.

“When you look at The Media, and other sectors in our nation’s history, African Americans and The people of the Jewish community have partnered to create some of the best, most revolutionary work we know today.

“I am an advocate for people’s voices to be heard openly, fairly[,] and candidly. In today’s conversation about anti-racism and social justice, I think we all – including myself – must continue educating one another and embrace uncomfortable conversations – it’s the only way we ALL get better. I encourage more healthy dialogue and welcome any experts, clergy, or spokespersons to any of my platforms to hold me accountable and correct me in any statement that I’ve made that has been projected as negative. Until then, I hold myself accountable for this moment and take full responsibility because My intentions are only to show that as a beautiful human species we have way more commonalities than differences, So [sic] let’s embrace those as well as each other. We All Family!🙏🏾”

Here is the full interview: