Campaign Against Antisemitism respond to Kanye West offering to meet Jewish groups: “We will play no part”
Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), the leading UK charity fighting antisemitism, has responded to the offer from Kanye West to meet Jewish groups when he comes to play Wireless Festival, saying, “We will play no part”.
After the outrage sparked by Wireless Festival announcing that West is set to headline all three nights of its event in London’s Finsbury Park this July, the rapper made a fresh statement on April 6th in which he attempted to reach out to the Jewish community.
Titling his comments “Those I’ve Hurt”, West said: “I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly. My goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace and love through my music.”
He added: “I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in London in person, to listen. I know words aren’t enough. I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
In response, CAA has issued a statement seen by Far Out, where they began: “Kanye West and Wireless have to choose: profit or principle. If Mr West cancels his appearances at Wireless, it will be a sign that he may be genuine in his remorse. If he does not, then a meeting with Jewish groups can serve no purpose other than to kosher his invitation to the Festival – which we will play no part in.”
West has a widespread history of antisemitic behaviours, not limited to claiming to be a Nazi, selling Swastika T-shirts, and releasing a song called ‘Heil Hitler’ last year, with the UK government now reviewing his right to enter the country as a result of the backlash to the festival’s decision to platform him.
The CAA continued: “We want to see genuine signs of remorse from the man who last year said he made $40 million by selling swastika t-shirts via an ad he ran during the Super Bowl. Cancelling this premature gig would be a start, since Mr West has previously made apologies right before album releases and concert tours and then retracted the apology and reverted to type. We need to be persuaded that this time will be different.”
The rapper previously took out an advertisement in the Wall Street Journal in January this year, in which he attempted to apologise for his actions and blamed them on a brain injury and bipolar disorder.
When his headline slot at Wireless was announced, CAA previously told Far Out: “His cycle of apology and relapse has become a routine, so as with any addict once again we must wait to see if this time is any different.”
However, prior to West releasing his own statement in response to the Wireless backlash, Melvin Benn, the boss of Festival Republic which owns the event, also broke his silence by calling the rapper’s previous actions “abhorrent” but urging the public to show “forgiveness”.
The CAA directly addressed this aspect of the controversy by saying: “As for Melvin Benn, Wireless’ promoter, telling us that he spent a gap year in Israel several decades ago and that he forgives Mr West insults everyone’s intelligence. This is about profit, not forgiveness.”
They added: “Nobody knows what might come out of Mr West’s mouth on that stage or subsequently, least of all Mr Benn. That is why if the appearances go ahead, we will be organising a mass demonstration outside the Festival, whose organisers should be ashamed of themselves.”
Far Out has contacted the CAA to ask what the nature of their “mass demonstration” will constitute.
Amid the controversy, a number of the festival’s sponsors have withdrawn their support from the event, including Pepsi, Diageo, PayPal, and Rockstar Energy.
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