Topline
Kanye West wrote in an Instagram post early Saturday morning that he likes Jewish people again, after the rapper and former billionaire—now known as “Ye”—spouted several antisemitic comments and conspiracy theories in a spree of interviews and public appearances last year, including one incident in which he claimed he “likes Nazis.”
Kanye West said in an Instagram post Saturday that likes “Jewish people again.”
Key Facts
West said that watching Jonah Hill, who is Jewish, in the movie 21 Jump Street “made me like Jewish people again,” in a post that has garnered more than 2 million likes.
West added that “no one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that hatred towards millions of innocent people.”
The post, the only one left on his Instagram profile, concludes with West saying, “Thank you Jonah Hill, I love you.”
His post follows previous antisemitic comments on social media, including claims he is going to go “death con 3 on Jewish people,” one tweet in which West says he is “starting to think anti-Semitic means [the N word]” and his praise of Adolf Hitler during an appearance on Infowars in December.
Big Number
$2 billion. That was West’s net worth before Adidas—in addition to Balenciaga, the Gap and Foot Locker—cut its relationship with him, according to our estimates, though we now estimate him to be worth $398 million.
Surprising Fact
West was named 2022 Antisemite of the Year by StopAntisemitism, a watchdog organization focused on exposing antisemitic groups and individuals.
Key Background
His partnership with Adidas—previously estimated to be worth $1.5 billion—ended after Adidas said it “does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech.” West doubled down on his comments, including an interview with Chris Cuomo in October in which West refers to a “Jewish underground media mafia,” suggesting that Black musicians signing with Jewish-owned record labels is a form of “modern day slavery.” Despite this, West apologized for some of his comments in an interview with Piers Morgan—though he later said he “loves Hitler” and “likes Nazis. West was later suspended from Twitter after sharing a photo of the Star of David combined with a swastika.
Further Reading
Kanye West’s Antisemitic, Troubling Behavior—Here’s Everything He’s Said In Recent Weeks (Forbes)
Billionaire No More: Kanye West’s Antisemitism Obliterates His Net Worth As Adidas Cuts Ties (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/03/25/kanye-west-who-lost-fortune-after-antisemitic-tirade-says-he-likes-jewish-people-again/