Nick Cannon, was publicly terminated for promoting anti-Semitic ideas during his podcast. The "We Belong Together" diva took to social media Tuesday night just as ViacomCBS announced they had severed ties with Cannon, who Carey was married to and has two children with.
"ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism," a statement from the company read in regards to a highly-controversial episode of the star's podcast, "Cannon's Class."
In the June 30 episode of “Cannon’s Class,” the actor and TV host interviewed Professor Griff, a rapper who was a part of Public Enemy before leaving the group after making anti-Semitic remarks.
On the podcast, Cannon said Black people are the “true Hebrews” and talked about anti-Semitic conspiracy theories involving the Rothschild family.
“It’s never hate speech, you can’t be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people,” Cannon said. “When we are the same people who they want to be. That’s our birthright. We are the true Hebrews.”
On Monday, Cannon said on Twitter and Facebook that he has “no hate in my heart nor malice intentions” and doesn’t condone hate speech. He also said that he holds himself “accountable for this moment” and takes full responsibility for his actions.
Later in a lengthy post, the host demanded "full ownership of my billion dollarWild 'N Outbrand that I created" and asked for an end to "the hate and back door bullying" and an apology.
In the post, titled "Truth and Reconciliation," Cannon details his 20-year history as part of the Viacom family and says he's upset that a moment that could lead to "reconciliation" and understanding was used to "make an example of an outspoken black man."
"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," Cannon wrote. "Instead the moment was stolen and highjacked to make an example of an outspoken black man."
He claims that ViacomCBS "chose to recently ban all advertisement that supported George Floyd and Breonna Taylor who we are all still seeking justice for," and says he even reached out to ViacomCBS chair Shari Redstone "to have a conversation of reconciliation and actually apologize if I said anything that pained or hurt her or her community." But he claims his request to speak with Redstone was met with silence.
A rep for Redstone says Cannon's claim he reached out to Redstone is "absolutely untrue."
His claim of a ban on ads supporting Floyd and Taylor seems to be a reference to thisWall Street Journalstory about how Target and MTV blocked ads from news articles mentioning Floyd, "protests" and other terms on "blocklists."
"So that's when I realized they don't want a conversation or growth, they wanted to put the young negro in his place," Cannon wrote. "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. … Still, I honestly can't believe that Viacom has such poor council [sic] that would allow them to make such a divisive decision in the midst of protests and civil uprising within our current pandemic. Truly an unwise decision."
Cannon says he's received an "outpouring of love and support from the Jewish community."
"I must apologize to my Jewish Brothers and Sisters for putting them in such a painful position, which was never my intention, but I know this whole situation has hurt many people and together we will make it right," he wrote. "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."
He went on to say he'd been invited to Israel, where he says, "I will receive teachings, lessons and truth about the Jewish history."
"As for Viacom, who is now on the wrong side of history, I will continue to pray for you," he later wrote. "I don't blame any individual, I blame the oppressive and racist infrastructure. Systemic racism is what this world was built on and was the subject in which I was attempting to highlight in the recent clips that have been circulating from my podcast. If I have furthered the hate speech, I wholeheartedly apologize."
Follow Ashlee In The AM: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App