by rapper and fashion Designer Kanye West was released from the CAA talent agency as part of the fallout from violent anti-Semitic comments he made earlier this month, according to a statement obtained by Variety.
“I can confirm that Kanye is not a customer,” a CAA representative said. CNBC on Monday. West, who legally changed her name to Ye earlier this year, signed with the giant talent agency in 2016.
MRC, a film production studio, also announced on Monday that it would stop a biographical documentary on Ye.
In a statement to VarietyMRC studio executives Modi Wiczyk, Asif Satchu and Scott Tenley said that, after discussion with “filmmakers and distribution partners”, they decided not to “proceed with any distribution of our recently completed documentary on Kanye West”.
“We cannot support any content that amplifies your platform,” said the statement said. “Kanye is a music producer and sampler. Last week he sampled and remixed a classic tune that has been recorded for over 3,000 years: the lie that the Jews are evil and conspire to control the world for their own benefit.”
The 45-year-old record producer and songwriter made antisemitic comments twice earlier this month on Twitter and Instagram. In an Instagram message, he posted what appeared to be a text exchange between him and Sean “Diddy” Combs in which West suggested Diddy was controlled by Jews. Then, on Twitter, West said that he was “doing a 3 death scam” with the Jewish people.
“I’m a little sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going to die with 3 on the JEWISH PEOPLE,” West tweeted. “The funny thing is that I can’t really be anti-Semitic because black people are Jewish too. You guys have played me and tried to fool anyone who opposes your agenda.”
The posts have since been removed and their Twitter and Instagram accounts have been blocked for violating each platform’s policies prohibiting hateful content.
British TV presenter Piers Morgan interviewed West on Wednesday and asked if he apologized for his racist comments, to which West replied, “Absolutely not.”
The rapper later apologized for his comments, saying he wanted to give a “big hug” to the families he hurt.
“I will say I’m sorry for the people I hurt with the death scam, the turmoil I feel I caused pain and confusion, and I’m sorry for the families of the people who had nothing to do with the trauma I’ve been through. I’ve passed,” West said.
“I want to say I’m sorry that I hurt you with my comments, and I want to put it not in a political way but in a presidential way,” West added, referring to the families.
West recently came under fire for wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt alongside right-wing pundit Candace Owens on Oct. 4 at her Yeezy runway event during Paris Fashion Week. That same week, in a now-deleted episode of the “Drink Champs” podcast, West incorrectly claimed that George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis because he had fentanyl in his system.
“If you look, the guy’s knee wasn’t even on his neck like that,” Ye said, referring to Floyd’s death while being restrained by police officers on May 25, 2020, after being accused of using a ticket. fake in a nearby market. .
Dr. Andrew Baker, the boss medical examiner who signed Floyd’s death certificate, has said that Floyd died of “cardiopulmonary arrest that complicated neck compression, restraint, and law enforcement restraint.” Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes as Floyd pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” Chauvin, a white officer, was fired from the police department and later convicted of murdering the black man.
The mother of Floyd’s daughter has filed a $250 million lawsuit against West, accusing him of “spreading falsehoods” about Floyd.
CAA and MRC join a growing list of companies that have moved to West or with which West has cut ties, including Balenciaga, JPMorgan Chase Y Gap.
