Bill Maher labels Kanye West 'charming antisemite', refuses to air recorded podcast interview with rapper
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: Kanye West participated in an interview on Bill Maher's 'Club Random' podcast, but the discussion, spanning two hours, ultimately remained unaired.
Maher, during an episode of 'TMZ Investigates' centered on Kanye's ability to sustain relevance in pop culture despite his association with antisemitism, shed light on the reasons behind the shelving of the episode.
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Bill Maher refuses to air recorded conversation with Ye
The 68-year-old said, “The problem I think is that he appeals mostly—of course, he’s a rock star—to young people. They don’t know much, and they surely don’t know much about the Middle East or Jews. So the combination of, you know, Kanye out there…I feel like he was sort of helpful for spreading the fertilizer. And I do mean fertilizer, for this idea that Israel and the Jews are like the worst people in the world.”
Maher, who himself has faced backlash in the past for remarks deemed racist and homophobic, affirmed that he and West indeed recorded a conversation that he's hesitant to release. "I had Kanye right here at Club Random. We did an episode with him," he elaborated.
Continuing, Maher said, "I thought it was gonna be a learning moment. I mean, we were here for two hours. By the way, we had an amazing, fun time. He’s a very charming antisemite."
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"And by the way, he’s not the only one in America who feels that way," Maher added. "It’s not like the Jews are universally loved except for Kanye West."
When confronted with the analogy that someone might describe Adolf Hitler as a "charming antisemite," Maher acknowledged that this very comparison is the reason he's reluctant to air the 'Club Random' episode.
"Exactly," he affirmed. "That’s why I wouldn’t air that episode. Because I’m not going to contribute to this."
Kanye West's controversial apology to Jewish community
In December 2023, Kanye West publicly apologized to the Jewish community, though speculation arose whether the apology was AI-generated, as per The Guardian.
In 2022, West garnered controversy for a string of antisemitic remarks on social media and for expressing admiration for Hitler during an interview with far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Kanye West has managed to retain a fervent fanbase eagerly anticipating the release of his long-awaited collaborative album with Ty Dolla Sign, 'Vultures'.
Additionally, he has reconciled with Kid Cudi, engaged in discussions with underground hip-hop figure JPEGMAFIA, and garnered support from Lil Dicky, who is Jewish.
"I was like surprised," remarked Lil Dicky on the 'Flagrant' podcast. "I don’t think in his heart Kanye dislikes Jewish people. I know he knows I’m Jewish. I know he likes me. You know what I mean? In my heart, I feel like he probably said something and it was the wrong thing."
Bill Maher's comments spark fury online
Maher's revelation has led to a considerable buzz online.
"Bill interviewed him and THEN realized he was "too" problematic? I guess he has a threshold of antisemitism and he also doesn't follow pop culture for the last 10 years. Do some antisemites make the cut then? He says Kanye is a "charming" antisemite? Oh, so there is such a thing? Pathetic," a user wrote on Facebook.
"At least Kanye is not a hypocrisy when it come to antisemitic cause most people are," claimed another. "Can't stand Kanye but super disappointed in Bill," someone else said.
"Bill Maher supports yt Zionists committing genocide so he can take a seat with his favorite white supremacist, Ye West," a comment read.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online
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