Jewish leader calls on people to give Kanye a “chance” after apology

An Australian Jewish leader has had a surprising reaction to Kanye West’s recent apology over anti-Semitic comments he made in 2022.

An Australian Jewish leader has had a surprising reaction to Kanye West’s recent apology over anti-Semitic comments he made in 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

A Jewish leader has urged the public to give Kanye West a “chance” after he apologised for a series of anti-Semitic outbursts.

The musician has sparked outrage over multiple anti-Semitic comments, starting in October 2022 when he tweeted that he was going to “going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE … You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”

He also implied that rapper Diddy was controlled by a Jewish conspiracy, sharing a screenshot of the pair’s text messages and writing: “Ima use you as an example to show the Jewish people that told you to call me that no one can threaten or influence me.”

West unveiled new music last month that featured anti-Semitic lyrics. Picture: Instagram/@jeen_yuhs

The rapper took to Instagram on the final hours of Christmas Day with his unexpected apology.

“I sincerely apologise to the Jewish community for any unplanned outburst. … It was not my intent to hurt or disrespect, and I very much regret any pain I may have caused,” the musician wrote on Instagram in Hebrew.

There have been mixed reactions to his apology, but chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin has taken a more forgiving stance, despite West broadcasting anti-Semitic myths to “millions” of people.
“He mainstreamed the concepts of Jewish money, Jewish power, Jewish poisoners, Jewish disloyalty, Jewish impostors, Jewish cunning. The full impact of what he did may not be fully understood for some time,” he said.

The outspoken rapper was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2016. (Photo by Jean-Baptiste Lacroix / AFP)

Despite the damage done by Mr West’s comments, Mr Ryvchin urges people to be more forgiving if the rapper is sincere.

“But if he’s sincere in his apology and regrets the harm he caused, he should be given a chance.”

Mr Ryvchin has offered to meet with West and his Australian wife Bianca Censori to talk about his past comments.

West’s apology follows more anti-Semitic comments made just last month in Las Vegas, where the rapper ranted about Donald Trump, Jesus and Adolf Hitler.

Mr Ryvchin is one of Australia's most prominent Jewish figures.

“It’s 60 million of us in America, 60 million Jews in the world,” he falsely screamed in a video obtained by TMZ.

“Who’s going to make the hospitals, though? He’s a Zionist, Trump. This is what I’ve been trying to tell you. Jesus Christ, Hitler, Ye, third party, sponsor that.”

The 46-year-old debuted anti-Semitic lyrics this month when he gave listeners a glimpse of upcoming new music.

“I still keep some Jews with me / Management? Nah / I only let ’em do my jewelry,” he said at a listening party as his daughter North West stood nearby.

“How I’m antisemitic? I just f**ked a Jewish bitch,” he rapped in another song.