Billionaire wrapper and music producer Kanye West was dropped by Creative Artists Agency [CAA] today for making anti-Semitic remarks. West finds himself in the headlines largely for his failed marriage to Kim Kardashian, complaining in court records that he suffers from bipolar disorder, a condition, when not treated, results in disruptive behavior. Kanye’s recent anit-Semitic tirade indicates that he’s either not taking his meds or his condition is worsening. Kanye’s anti-Semitic remarks are fashionable in the Black community where the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, 89, once head of the Nation of Islam, frequently used anti-Semitic slurs in his sermons, pandering to Black audiences that see Jews as slave masters, particularly in Hollywood and the banking industry. Unlike Farrakhan, Kanye did not grow up in the ubiquitous pro-Nazi era where anti-Semitic slurs were commonplace in just about everywhere.
Fired by CAA and dropped by sponsors Adidas, Balenciaga, JP Morgan Chase and Gap, Kanye doesn’t have a clue how his bipolar disorder affects his daily life. Anit-Semitism is no longer fashionable except in the most extreme circles, mainly fringe right-wing militia groups still showing allegaiance to once Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. No one did more damage to European Jews that Hitler who, during WW II, came up with the Final Solution to round up and exterminate 6 million Jews before allied powers crushed the Nazi regime in 1945. Hitler wrote in famous tome “Mein Kamph” while imprisoned by the Weimer Republic in the early 1920s, where books like “The Learned Elders of Zion,” written in 1902 by some Russian colonel who said the Jews were controlling the world. Hitler and auto industrialist Henry Ford had something in common, both liked plagiarizing anti-Semitic texts.
So the origins of anti-Semitism linger today with Kanye’s more recent tirades. It’s tempting for angry people to stereotype and blame different groups for the ills of society. Unlike Kanye, the Black community lives in U.S. inner cities, often with high levels of unemployment and poverty. Why Blacks listen to Farrakhan or West is anyone’s guess but looking for scapegoats is the easiest thing to do. While it’s not known to Blacks that many Jews, like everyone else, live in a spectrum of socioeconomic success, some at the bottom and other at the top, berating Jews is the macho thing to do with Blacks who like to blame Jews for Black failures. CEO of Endeavor Agency Ari Emmanuel, cut ties with Kanye after he tweeted he wanted to go “death con 3” against Jews. Kanye was questioned by CNN’s Piers Morgan about his remarks, trying to gain clarity and an apology.
Morgan tried to get the mentally challenged West to sound lucid had a difficult time getting him to admit his offensive language. “I will say I’m sorry for the people that I hurt with Death Con—the confusion that I causes,” Kanye told Morgan. Kanye was banned from Twitter and Instagram for his remarks Kanye said he was going “death con 1 on the JEWISH PEOPLE,” referring to the military condition “DEAFCON.” Kanye’s apology seemed insincere, designed to save his sponsors. “I feel like I caused hurt and confusion. And I’m sorry for the families of the people that had nothing to do with the trauma that I have been through, and that I used my platform, where you say hurt people and I was hurt,” Kanye said. Kanye gets confused over his own trauma and that of the Black community, to lash out at Jews, a favorite target of Farrakhan and other Black preachers.
Kanye was interviewed by Fox New Tucker Carlson, where its didn’t take long for the 47-year-old rapper to go off the rails. “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” Kanye said. “The funny thing is I actually can be anti-Semitic because black people are actually Jew also. You guys have toyed with me and try to blackball anyone whoever opposes your agenda,” Kanye told Tucker, showing no real apology but exposing his twisted logic. Going after Jews wins Kanye plaudits from white supremacist groups but doesn’t fly in Hollywood where so many Jewish artists, producers and directors earn their living. Ari Emmanuel, brother of Chicago Mayor Rom Emmanuel, former strategist to President Bill Clinton, wasted no time denouncing West. Given the sensitivity to the Holocaust and random acts of anti-Semitism around the country, Kanye was condemned quickly.
Paying a heavy price for his mental illness, Kanye doesn’t find much sympathy for someone that suffers from bipolar disorder. “I gotta let go of that and free myself of the trauma and say, ‘look, I’m gonna give it all up to God right now,’” Kanye told Tucker Carlson. “God forbid one comment could cause people to feel any of the pain that my people have went through the years,” Kanye responded to Piers Morgan. “Do you now regret saying Death Con 3 on Jewish people,” Morgan asked Kanye. “ Are you sorry you said that?” to which Kanye responded, “No, absolutely not,” Kanye told Morgan. When it comes to a high-file celebrity spewing anti-Semitic hate, it shows how far Hollywood needs to go to reverse old prejudice and bigotry. Kanye vented against Jews because it’s more acceptable in the Black community, having evolved from Farrakhan to evangelical Black Churches.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
