Louis Farrakhan tells Kanye West not to apologize for 'classic anti-Semetic' remark

During a weekly address for the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan told rapper Kanye West not to apologize for a remark he made late last week that was labeled as “classic anti-Semitism” by the Anti-Defamation League.

“You are telling Kanye West he should know better,” Farrakhan said. “He does know better, and that’s why he said what he said… Kanye West, don’t bow to the pressure to apologize to anybody. You said nothing wrong.”

The controversial rapper attempted to address the issues that President Obama has encountered passing policies when he said, “Man, let me tell you about George Bush and oil money and Obama and no money. People want to say Obama can’t make these moves or he’s not executing. That’s because he ain’t got those connections. Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people. Black people don’t have the same connection as oil people.”

The National Director of the ADL, Abraham H. Foxman, reacted to the remark.

“If the comments are true as reported, this is classic anti-Semitism,” he said. “There it goes again, the age-old canard that Jews are all-powerful and control the levers of power in government. As a celebrity with a wide following, Kanye West should know better. We hope that he will take responsibility for his words, understand why they are so offensive, and apologize to those he has offended.”

During his address, Farrakhan directly responded to Foxman. “I wish you and I could have a dialogue. You wouldn’t pull that small-time stuff on me.”

[The Jewish Daily Forward] [Anti-Defamation League]