ViacomCBS confirmed it has terminated its relationship with its Wild ‘n Out host, Nick Cannon, after he “failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating antisemitism."
The company was referring to comments Cannon made during a recent episode of his podcast, Cannon's Class. In a series of posts to his Twitter account, he said he has "no hate in my heart" and that he does not "condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric."
“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,” a spokesperson said in a statement late Tuesday.
Cannon’s comments came in an episode last month of his podcast series “Cannon’s Class” in which he interviewed former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin — who himself was fired from the group for making anti-Semitic comments in a 1989 interview — and repeatedly referenced fringe conspiracy theories about Jewish people. During the conversation, Cannon said Black people are the “true Hebrews” and praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
In the interview and in follow-up statements, Cannon has repeatedly stressed that his comments were not intended to be hateful. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions,” He wrote in a Facebook post. “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.”
Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions. I do not condone hate speech nor the...
Posted by Nick Cannon on Monday, July 13, 2020
He later said in an interview with Fast Company that he would not apologize for the comments.
“To me apologies are empty … What we need is healing. What we need is discussion. Correct me. I don’t tell my children to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I want them to understand where they need to be corrected. And then that’s how we grow,” he said.
“To me apologies are empty … What we need is healing. What we need is discussion. Correct me. I don’t tell my children to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ I want them to understand where they need to be corrected. And then that’s how we grow,” he said.
Cannon’s television career has spanned more than 15 years with MTV and Nickelodeon, also ViacomCBS-owned, starting with his sketch comedy show Wild ‘n Out which aired from 2005.
The 39-year-old actor and former America’s Got Talent host had been a familiar fixture presenting across the network’s channels.
Mariah Carey’s former husband was also chairman for TeenNick, a spin-off Nickelodeon channel geared towards 13 to 17-year-olds.
The 39-year-old actor and former America’s Got Talent host had been a familiar fixture presenting across the network’s channels.
Mariah Carey’s former husband was also chairman for TeenNick, a spin-off Nickelodeon channel geared towards 13 to 17-year-olds.
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