In a post on Instagram, the artist formerly known as Kanye West has said he “likes Jewish people again” after watching Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street.
“Watching Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street made me like Jewish people again,” wrote Ye in the caption for the post, which included the DVD cover of the 2012 comedy. “No one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people. No Christian can be labeled antisemite knowing Jesus is Jew. Thank you Jonah Hill I love you.”
Hill has not responded, but he’s sure to feel at least somewhat confused to be the topic of Ye’s first Instagram post of 2023. It’s important to note the actor is not on social media, however.
Ye’s latest post comes after a tumultuous 2022 that saw him slip further into far-right and hateful rhetoric. He shared a number of anti-Semitic remarks throughout the year, starting with his threat to go “death con 3 on Jewish people.” He eventually went so far off the deep-end that he was interviewed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on InfoWars, during which he stated he saw “good things about Hitler.”
His behavior has seen him suspended from multiple social media networks, including Twitter, Instagram, and Clubhouse. He also lost many of his major brand deals, including Gap, Balenciaga, and most notably Adidas. Not long after he shared his comments praising Hitler, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago rescinded his honorary doctorate degree. Ye’s comments also got President Joe Biden to release a statement denouncing anti-Semitism.
Ye was given the “dishonor” of Antisemite of the Year by non-profit watchdog group StopAntisemitism, as TMZ reported in December, 2022. "Kanye uses his celebrity platform to push dangerous antisemitic tropes about Jews and power and he refuses to stop," said the group's executive director, Liora Rez. "His continuous onslaught of bigoted statements has resulted in horrific antisemitic acts perpetrated by white supremacists, Black Hebrew Israelites, and other fringe groups looking to cause Jews harm."
Last month, the Anti-Defamation League released a report that linked Ye’s anti-Semitic rhetoric to assaults and vandalism across the country.
