Nick Cannon’s Backlash To Past Anti-Semitic Remarks: ‘Growth Moment’
Nick Cannon is reflecting on his mistakes and moving towards educating others. The Masked Singer host addressed anti-Semitic comments he made in 2020 on his YouTube channel and how that opened up conversations of understanding.
At the time, the actor was criticized after making controversial comments about the Jewish community in his Cannon’s Class series. In one episode, he discussed anti-Semitic conspiracy theories with former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin. (Griffin was previously ousted from the group after making anti-Semitic remarks in a 1989 Washington Post interview.)
His Initial Response
As we previously reported, Cannon initially addressed his comments in a very lengthy Facebook post. The Wild ‘n Out creator apologized to his “Jewish Brothers and Sisters for putting them in such a painful position. He added, “[That] was never my intention. I know this whole situation has hurt many people and together we will make it right.”
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“The Black and Jewish communities have both faced enormous hatred, oppression persecution and prejudice for thousands of years and in many ways have and will continue to work together to overcome these obstacles.” Cannon added that he was holding himself “accountable.” He noted that he took “full responsibility” for his words. “My intentions are only to show that as a beautiful human species we have way more commonalities than differences, So let’s embrace those as well as each other. We All Family,” he added.
The actor’s comments ultimately led to being fired from ViacomCBS. It also led to the initial cancellation of his popular Wild ‘n Out series. However, the partnership eventually resumed in early 2021, with MTV Entertainment Group saying Cannon had “taken responsibility for his comments” and “worked to educate himself” by having discussions with Jewish leaders. He also kept his The Masked Singer hosting gig at Fox.
2 Hate or Not 2 Hate
Now, two years and nearly ten kids later, Cannon, 42, said “that process was a growth moment for me on so many levels as a man.” He talked about his new podcast, Solutions: 2 Hate or Not 2 Hate, in which he is joined by the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt. Starting in January of 2023, the podcast’s “goal is to gain a better understanding of one another through tough conversations tackling historic prejudices that hinder our growth as people functioning in a unified society.”
He said of his co-host that it’s all about “talking about the equation of our two communities from two different perspectives… We voice our side, or the perspective as a Black man, and then he voices his side from a Jewish man.” Cannon continued, “Even that alone is helpful and educational for both communities right and again too because that’s the thing we can sit up here and be enraged but if we don’t engage, what are we really doing if we can’t learn from one another?”
Going forward, Cannon said he is “no longer about just talk” as he aims to continue putting his “money where my mouth is and my energy to where my heart is.” He believes this approach will benefit others with a platform so they can have an “understanding of what it is” so they don’t “stumble,” “fumble,” and “lose opportunities or get so-called canceled.”
Watch the interview below:
