Warning: This article discusses hate speech, which some readers may find distressing.
David Schwimmer has criticized Elon Musk for permitting Kanye West to disseminate ‘hate-filled’ comments on Twitter after the rapper posted a series of inflammatory messages online.
West, who now goes by Ye, had his Twitter account deactivated following several days of posting offensive remarks, many of which were directed at the Jewish community.
Among his tweets were statements like: “I love Hitler,” and “I’m a Nazi.” Another post read: “I’m never apologising for my Jewish comments.”
Previously, the musician had issued an apology to the Jewish community for earlier offensive comments, stating on Instagram in 2023 (via The Independent): “It was not my intention to hurt or demean, and I deeply regret any pain I may have caused.”
During his online outburst, West also expressed gratitude to the Tesla CEO for allowing him to ‘vent’, saying: “It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board. It was like an Ayahuasca trip.”
“Love all of you who gave me your energy and attention. To we connect again [sic]. Good afternoon and goodnight.”
West’s controversial posts attracted attention from numerous individuals, including Friends actor David Schwimmer, who urged Musk to intervene.
In an extensive Instagram post, Schwimmer, who is Jewish himself, stated: “This is so 2022. We can’t stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk.
“Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That’s twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews.
“I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own) or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point.
“Silence is complicity.”
Elon Musk responded around the time West logged out, indicating that his account had been marked as ‘NSFW’.
Responding to another user about West posting ‘literal porn’, the South African billionaire said: “Given what he has posted, his account is now classified as NSFW. You should not be seeing that anymore.”
Additionally, West took aim at Taylor Swift for ‘singing along’ during Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance of ‘Not Like Us’, writing: “IF ITS ABOUT THE CULTURE … WHY ARE WE LETTING TAYLOR SWIFT BE SEEN ON TV SINGING A SONG ABOUT TAKING A BLACK MAN DOWN AND ACCUSING OF THINGS THAT CAN TAKE A BLACK MAN DOWN FOR LIFE.”
He also claimed to have ‘dominion’ over his wife, Bianca Censori, who appeared at the Grammys in a see-through dress.
Criticizing it as ‘no woke as feminist s**t’, West wrote (via NBC News): “People say the red carpet look was her decision. Yes I don’t make her do nothing she doesn’t want to but she definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without my approval you stupid a** woke pawn.”