YouTube’s global head of music, Lyor Cohen, who worked closely with Kanye West when he was CEO of Def Jam Recordings, has issued an open letter addressed to the superstar artist, who has alienated much of the world with his hateful antisemitic comments.
In his letter, Cohen pleads West to be “more sensitive to the pain your words inflict on Jewish communities and all those who stand against hate.” This follows West’s ongoing tirade against Jewish people — this includes everything from the sale of a T-shirt with a swastika on it (and a Super Bowl advertisement for the webstore), to West calling himself a Nazi via X.
Cohen spoke at length about his past relationship with West during a conversation with Variety about antisemitism in the music industry that took place just two weeks before Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which set off the most recent war between the two sides.
Asked at the time whether he’d ever previously heard antisemitic comments from West, Cohen repled, “Never. Never. I was completely… I always saw that he was loose with his feelings, but I never heard a negative comment towards me or Jewish people, at least not in front of me. And I’ve had a lot of exposure to him. So I was really thrown off and surprised that he felt that way.” He added that he was ” deeply, deeply angry and saddened” by West’s comments, and as he says in the open letter below, that situation has only worsened.
Although West was dropped from his talent agency (33&West) on Tuesday morning, his music and video content is still available to stream on platforms including YouTube.
Read Cohen’s letter below:
Dear Kanye,
I am deeply disappointed and troubled by your recent actions involving the use of Nazi symbols and antisemitic rhetoric. Your words and actions are not only offensive but triggering to all decent people who recognize the horrors of the Holocaust and the suffering of millions.
With antisemitism on the rise, your voice and influence carry a significant responsibility. I urge you to be more sensitive to the pain your words inflict on Jewish communities and all those who stand against hate.
Your talent and reach could be used to heal and inspire, to bridge divides and promote understanding. Instead, you’ve chosen a path that sows discord and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
The Jewish and Black experiences share a rich history of collaboration and mutual support, particularly in the music industry. From the early days of jazz and blues to the groundbreaking work of Motown and beyond, our communities have enriched each other through music and culture.
I urge you to reflect on this shared legacy and use your platform to build upon the love and understanding that have always existed between our communities.
Sincerely,
Lyor