Ari Emanuel, CEO of Top entertainment industry talent agency Endeavor, is calling for companies to stop doing business with Kanye West following the artist’s recent controversies.
“Apple (AAPL) and Spotify (SPOT), which host West’s music, whoever organizes West’s tours, and Adidas, which collaborates with West on his fashion line, should all stop working with him,” Emanuel wrote in a Financial Times opt-ed this week.
The artist, who now goes by the name Ye, was recently locked out of Twitter after tweeting he going to go “death con 3 on Jewish people.” He also went on Drinks Champs following the tweet to continue his rhetoric and falsely claim George Floyd died from drug overdose.
“West is not just any person — he is a pop culture icon with millions of fans around the world,” Emanuel wrote; “And among them are young people whose views are still being formed. This is why it is necessary for all of us to speak out. Hatred and anti-Semitism should have no place in our society, no matter how much money is at stake.”
“We are all capable of learning and evolving, and if West would like to be educated about the history and consequences of anti-Semitism and the conspiracy theories he’s parroting, if he wants to reach out to religious leaders — including rabbis, Muslim leaders, Christian leaders — I’d be happy to help,” he wrote.
Emanuel also called for top brands that have collaborated with Ye to “speak out and take action” against the music and fashion mogul.
“Those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an audience. There should be no tolerance anywhere for West’s anti-Semitism.” “This is a moment in history where the stakes are high and being open about our values, and living them, is essential. Silence and inaction are not an option.”
