Anti-Defamation League Accuses Kanye of Anti-Semitism

The Anti-Semitism watchdog the Anti-Defamation League took offense, and they have now asked Kanye to apologize for “fueling [a] classic anti-Semitic stereotype.”

December 04, 2013



Kanye West has ruffled more than a few feathers in his day, so it should probably come as no surprise that he did it again during his whirlwind media tour last week. In an interview with Power 105's Breakfast Club, the often contentious rapper suggested that Obama's struggles in DC may be due in part to his heritage; and in doing so, he may have borrowed upon some clumsy stereotypes. What he said:


Man, let me tell you something 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 connections as oil people.

He also said, "We ain’t Jewish. We don’t got family that got money like that. The rappers became the new family.”

Anti-Semitism watchdog the Anti-Defamation League took offense to his "fueling of classic anti-Semitic stereotypes," and in a statement posted to their website on Monday, they asked him for an apology. They write:

This is classic anti-Semitism. There it goes again, the age-old canard that Jews are all-powerful and and control the levers of power in government. As a celebrity with a wide following, Kanye West should know better. We hale that he will take responsibility for his words, understand why they are so offensive, and apologize to those he has offended.

Maybe he can add it to the list of offenses he still needs to write back-handed apology songs for.

Anti-Defamation League Accuses Kanye of Anti-Semitism