Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs on Wednesday offered Nick Cannon a job on his U.S. digital cable network Revolt after Cannon was fired by ViacomCBS for making anti-Semitic comments.
“We got your back and love you and what you have done for the culture,” Diddy tweeted, pointing out that Revolt is “truly BLACK OWNED!!!” He added: “We are for our people first!!! For us! By US! Let’s go!!!”
Cannon has so far not responded publicly to the offer.
The TV host, rapper and ex-husband of Mariah Carey came under fire this week for a conversation on his YouTube podcast Cannon’s Class with former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin wherein they amplified anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
The 39-year-old said: “It’s never hate speech, you can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people. When we are the same people who they want to be. That’s our birthright. We are the true Hebrews.”
ViacomCBS, parent company of networks like MTV and Nickelodeon, produces Cannon’s sketch comedy series Wild ’n Out. The company said Tuesday it was severing ties with Cannon.
In a statement, the company said the episode “promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories” and “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.”
Late Wednesday, Cannon tweeted an apology.
“First and foremost I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth during my interview with Richard Griffin,” he wrote.
“They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naïve place that these words came from. The video of this interview has since been removed.”
Cannon said he has received “at least a minor history lesson over the past few days” and that he has more to learn about the Jewish experience.
“On my podcast I used words & referenced literature I assumed to be factual to uplift my community instead turned out to be hateful propaganda and stereotypical rhetoric that pained another community For this I am deeply sorry but now together we can write a new chapter of healing.”
The mea culpa was good enough for Fox, which said Cannon will continue to host its popular series The Masked Singer. “He is clear and remorseful that his words were wrong and lacked both understanding and context, and inadvertently promoted hate. This was important for us to observe,” read a statement.
“Nick has sincerely apologized, and quickly taken steps to educate himself and make amends. On that basis and given a belief that this moment calls for dialogue, we will move forward with Nick and help him advance this important conversation, broadly. Fox condemns all forms of hate directed toward any community and we will combat bigotry of any kind.”
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Cannon’s latest tweets follow a series on Monday in which he appeared to defend his comments.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions,” he wrote. “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.
“In today’s conversation about anti-racism and social justice, I think we all including myself must continue educating one another & embrace uncomfortable conversations it’s the only way we ALL get better.”
Cannon added: “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!”
He then posted a lengthy message on Facebook in which he insisted he was being victimized.
“I am deeply saddened in a moment so close to reconciliation that the powers that be, misused an important moment for us to all grow closer together and learn more about one another,” he wrote. “Instead the moment was stolen and highjacked to make an example of an outspoken black man.
“I will not be bullied, silenced, or continuously oppressed by any organization, group, or corporation. I am disappointed that Viacom does not understand or respect the power of the black community.”
After summarizing his long history with ViacomCBS, Cannon took aim at the company. He said he reached out to chair Shari Redstone “to have a conversation of reconciliation and actually apologize if I said anything that pained or hurt her or her community.”
Cannon said he was met with silence. “So that’s when I realized they don’t want a conversation or growth, they wanted to put the young negro in his place. They wanted to show me who is boss, hang me out to dry and make an example of anyone who says something they don’t agree with.”
Cannon said he is receiving death threats and hateful and racist messages. He said ViacomCBS is on the wrong side of history and blamed the “oppressive and racist infrastructure” for its decision to sever ties.
“Viacom’s goal to keep me from providing for my family and lineage will be foiled,” he said. “They can try to kick me while I’m down or force me to kiss the master’s feet in public for shame and ridicule, but instead I stand firm on my square with my fist in the air repeating my mantra, ‘You can’t fire a Boss!’
“I demand full ownership of my billion dollar Wild ‘N Out brand that I created, and they will continue to misuse and destroy without my leadership! I demand that the hate and back door bullying cease and while we are at it, now that the truth is out, I demand the Apology!”
Cannon said there has been an outpouring of support from the Jewish community. “I know this whole situation has hurt many people and together we will make it right,” he said. “I have dedicated my daily efforts to continuing conversations to bring the Jewish Community and the African American community closer together, embracing our differences and sharing our commonalities.”
Cannon said he has been invited to Israel to “receive teachings, lessons and truth about the Jewish history.”
Buried in the Facebook message was an apology. "If I have furthered the hate speech, I wholeheartedly apologize.”