ViacomCBS Cut Nick Cannon Loose over Anti-semitic comments
ViacomCBS is ending its long-running relationship with Nick Cannon after he made anti-Semitic comments on his podcast, Cannon’s Class.
When we reported on Nick Cannon’s hair raising discussion with former Public Enemy member Professor Griffin from a few days ago, I wondered if the controversial remarks would enter the news cycle, and maybe cost him a few jobs.
After a sound bite of Nick saying that lack of melanin in their skin turned white people into the “true savages,” Nick started trending on Twitter. Actually, if it were just some goofy statement about how Vikings were murderous because of cold weather, white skin and blue eyes, I think CBS could have blown the whole thing off.
Nick Cannon says white people are "a little less," "closer to animals," "the true savages," "acting out of a deficiency so the only way they can act is evil." When does he get canceled? pic.twitter.com/vK3TBDW9i8
— Adam Ford (@Adam4d) July 14, 2020
Nick Cannon spewed debunked Jewish conspiracy theories
But the truly troubling aspects of Nick’s 90 minute “Cannon’s Class” discussion with Professor Griff, were the amplifying of harmful and untrue anti-semitic conspiracy theories. Nick insists that black people are the “true Hebrews,” and that Jews stole their culture and stories. Nick also repeated conspiracies about One World Order, Bloodlines, the Rothschilds, and the idea that Jews insidiously control media and banking. He also heaped praise on Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan who has referred to Jews as “termites.” Click the link below for more.
Masked Singer’s Nick Cannon Spews Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories (VIDEO)
Indeed, ViacomCBS statement notes that Nick’s anti-semitic statements led to the company cutting him loose:
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. 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. We are committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. ViacomCBS will have further announcements on our efforts to combat hate of all kinds,
Read the statement carefully. It appears that ViacomCBS gave Nick the chance to walk back what he said, and he refused. Remember that when NBC objected to some remarks he made about the company in his standup routine, Nick chose to quit America’s Got Talent rather than apologize.
Nick Cannon says “I have no hate in my heart”
In a social media statement, Nick insists that he doesn’t hate anybody, but does not walk back his statements. He and Professor Griff insist at several points in the podcast that they don’t hate Jews, and that their views are not anti-semitic, because they are true. Also, they insist incredulously, that because they are the “true semites” they can’t be “anti” themselves.
Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice 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 let’s embrace those as well as each other. We All Family!
“Apologies are empty,” says Nick Cannon
As far as apologies go, Nick tells Fast Company:
To me apologies are empty. Are you forcing me to say the words ‘I’m sorry’? Are you making me bow down, ’cause then again, that would be perpetuating that same rhetoric that we’re trying to get away from. What we need is healing. What we need is discussion. Correct me. I don’t tell my children to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I want them to understand where they need to be corrected. And then that’s how we grow.”
“You can say sorry in as many different languages as you want to, and it means nothing. But until someone truly understands where they may have been wrong or where they may have offended someone, then that’s where growth occurs.
Who else will cut Nick Cannon loose?
Next is FOX. Will they fire him from his job hosting the Masked Singer? Arguably, it’s one of the best jobs in showbusiness right now, considering the show’s high ratings. Nick is also set to launch a talk show this fall with Debmar-Mercury and just kicked off Celebrity Call Center on the E! Channel, part of the Comcast empire (along with NBC).
Nick has had a relationship with ViacomCBS since his teen acting career in the 90s. He’s also hosted the sketch comedy show “Wild ‘n Out,” which aired on MTV and VH1 since 2005.
