S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West is catching some fire this week in light of dicey comments he recently made about the government, specifically the idea President Barack Obama does not have as much pull due to a lack of Jewish connections.
According to reports, the Anti-Defamation League is demanding a public apology from Mr. West.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) denounced as “classic anti-Semitism” remarks by the rapper Kanye West, who in a radio interview last week attempted to explain President Obama’s inability to gain momentum on his policy priorities in Washington, D.C. with the outrageous statement that, “Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people.” “If the comments are true as reported, this is classic anti-Semitism,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “There it goes again, the age-old canard that Jews are all-powerful and control the levers of power in government. As a celebrity with a wide following, Kanye West should know better. We hope that he will take responsibility for his words, understand why they are so offensive, and apologize to those he has offended.” (ADL)
The non-profit organization specifically noted what comments sparked the most insult.
Mr. West reportedly made the statements during an interview on New York City’s Hip Hop and R&B radio station Power 105.1 FM. The comments came to light after the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz printed them on Friday. According to reports, Mr. West remarked during the interview: “Man, let me tell you about George Bush and oil money and Obama and no money. People want to say Obama can’t make these moves or he’s not executing. That’s because he ain’t got those connections. Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people. Black people don’t have the same connection as oil people.” (ADL)
Over the summer, Ye’s reference to Parkinson’s disease on his “On Sight” track sparked massive backlash.
Kanye West is being slammed as “ignorant” and “distasteful” over a lyric on his new album which uses Parkinson’s disease as a punch line … TMZ has learned. Now, TMZ has learned the American Parkinson Disease Association is upset about the lyric — with the org.’s VP Kathryn Whitford telling us, “We find these lyrics distasteful and the product of obvious ignorance.” FYI — the APDA has been around for over 50 years and it’s the largest organization in the country dedicated to helping those with Parkinson’s and furthering efforts to find a cure. So far, no response from Kanye’s camp.” (TMZ)
On the record, Ye makes a quick but noticeable reference to the disease.
“A monster about to come alive again,” Kanye raps, “Soon as I pull up and park the Benz/We get this b*tch shaking like Parkinson’s.” (“On Sight”)
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