ViacomCBS Has Terminated Its Relationship With Nick Cannon Over Anti-Semitic Remarks

Published on July 15, 2020.

ViacomCBS has made the decision to cut ties with Nick Cannon over an insensitive video he released.

A ViacomCBS spokesperson said in a statement that the company has terminated their relationship with the Wild ‘n Out host after he “failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism” in a recent episode of his YouTube channel’s “Cannon’s Class” series.

“ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism,” the statement read. “We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’ on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.”

“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.”

The spokesperson added that ViacomCBS is “committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry.”

Cannon has worked with ViacomCBS for decades in addition to starring in a variety of shows on the company’s owned networks, including Nickelodeon and MTV.

The video that ViacomCBS is referring to is a YouTube video Cannon published which features an interview with former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin who was ousted from the group for his own anti-Semitic remarks in an interview with the Washington Post in 1989. In the video, the two discussed anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Following the initial backlash after the video was released, Cannon addressed his fans on Facebook. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions. 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,” he wrote.

“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,” he continued.

“When you look at The Media, and other sectors in our nation’s history, African Americans and The people of the Jewish community have partnered to create some of the best, most revolutionary work we know today.”

“I am an advocate for people’s voices to be heard openly, fairly and candidly. In today’s conversation about anti-racism and social justice, I think we all – including myself – must continue educating one another and embrace uncomfortable conversations – it’s the only way we ALL get better. I encourage more healthy dialogue and welcome any experts, clergy, or spokespersons to any of my platforms to hold me accountable and correct me in any statement that I’ve made that has been projected as negative.”

He concluded, “Until then, I hold myself accountable for this moment and take full responsibility because 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!”