Charlamagne Tha God, a radio host on “The Breakfast Club,” criticized Viacom’s decision to end Nick Cannon’s contract over anti-Semitic comments claiming that it’s only because Jews “have the power” that Cannon is gone.
“Listen, Nick is my guy. I hate it had to be him, but that’s what you can do when you have the power. And if there’s one thing Jewish people have showed us, it’s they have the power,” he said. “I can’t wait until the day black people are able to fire people for saying things about us that we deem racist. We can barely get cops fired for actually killing us!”
Cannon first received backlash for his anti-Semitic comments on a republished episode of his podcast “Cannon’s Class.” In the episode, Cannon discussed conspiracy theories about how black people are the true Hebrews and Jews maintain “centralized banking, the bloodlines that control everything — even outside of America” with former Public Enemy rap group member Richard Griffin or “Professor Griff.”
“It’s never hate speech,” Cannon said on the episode. “You can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people, when we are the same people that they want to be. That’s our birthright.”
ViacomCBS, owner of MTV which produces Cannon’s “Wild ‘n Out” comedy show, fired him just a few days after, citing Cannon’s lack of acknowledgement or apology for his comments.
“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism,” a ViacomCBS spokesperson said in a statement. “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
Originally, Cannon defended his anti-Semitic comments claiming that he has “no hate in my heart nor malice intentions.”
“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,” he tweeted. “We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding.”
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.
— Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) July 13, 2020
It was not long after his string of Tweets about that incident, however, before Cannon changed his position.
“I am deeply saddened in a moment so close to reconciliation that the powers that be, misused an important moment for us to all grow closer together and learn more about one another,” he wrote on Facebook. “Instead the moment was stolen and highjacked to make an example of an outspoken black man. I will not be bullied, silenced, or continuously oppressed by any organization, group, or corporation. I am disappointed that Viacom does not understand or respect the power of the black community.”
Cannon also said that ViacomCBS is “on the wrong side of history” and demanded that they grant him “full ownership” of his comedy show.
“But now I am the one making demands. I demand full ownership of my billion dollar ‘Wild ‘N Out’ brand that I created, and they will continue to misuse and destroy without my leadership! I demand that the hate and back door bullying cease and while we are at it, now that the truth is out, I demand the Apology!” he wrote.
