David Schwimmer, best known for his role in Friends, has publicly urged Elon Musk to take action against Kanye West by removing him from the social media platform X.
Schwimmer’s call to action follows a series of highly offensive posts made by the rapper, who now goes by Ye. These posts, many of which contained antisemitic rhetoric, have sparked widespread criticism.
The controversy surrounding West’s statements is not new, but his continued use of X to spread inflammatory messages has reignited concerns about the platform’s role in amplifying hate speech.
Schwimmer, who is Jewish, expressed his outrage in a social media post, emphasizing the real-world consequences of such rhetoric and the responsibility of tech leaders like Musk to intervene.
West’s recent social media activity has included a string of disturbing comments, with many of them targeting the Jewish community. Among the most shocking statements, he wrote, “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi,” remarks that were widely condemned as hateful and dangerous. In another post, he doubled down on his views, stating, “I’m never apologizing for my Jewish comments.”
These messages have alarmed advocacy groups and individuals alike, reigniting concerns about the rapper’s influence over his massive online following. His words have not only been offensive but have also been linked to real-world antisemitic incidents, further fueling the urgency of calls for his removal from X.
On Saturday, Schwimmer took to Instagram to voice his concerns and demand accountability from Musk. In a strongly worded statement, the actor pointed out that while it may not be possible to stop individuals like West from expressing hateful views, platforms like X have the power to deny them a megaphone.
He highlighted the rapper’s vast reach, noting that with 32.7 million followers, West’s audience is more than double the global Jewish population. Schwimmer warned that allowing such speech to persist contributes to real-life violence, emphasizing the dangerous implications of normalizing or ignoring blatant hate speech.
Schwimmer did not mince words in his post, stating that he found it appalling that West openly identified as a Nazi. He pointed out that this ideology has historically been linked to the persecution and attempted extermination of marginalized communities, including Black people like West himself.
What he found even more troubling was the apparent lack of widespread outrage over West’s continued presence on social media despite his repeated antisemitic remarks.
The actor concluded his message with a stark reminder: “Silence is complicity.” His statement resonated with many, as it underscored the necessity of taking a firm stand against hate speech rather than passively allowing it to persist.
Despite the outcry, West continued to post inflammatory comments, further aggravating the situation. His remarks drew the attention of organizations like the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which joined Schwimmer in urging Musk to take decisive action by removing the rapper from X.
The organization stressed the need for accountability, arguing that platforms should not serve as vehicles for hate speech. The ongoing controversy surrounding West has also raised broader questions about the responsibility of social media companies in regulating harmful content while balancing free speech principles.
This is not the first time West has faced consequences for his antisemitic remarks. His X account has been suspended multiple times in the past for similar behavior. In December 2022, Musk personally intervened to suspend West’s account after he shared an image that appeared to merge a swastika with the Star of David, an act Musk deemed as incitement to violence.
The suspension, however, was not permanent, and by July 2023, West was allowed back on the platform. A similar incident occurred in October 2022 when his account was restricted after another wave of antisemitic comments, a move that contributed to Adidas cutting ties with the rapper.
The controversy surrounding West is not limited to his online activity. Just a week ago, he and his wife, Bianca Censori, made headlines for a different reason at the Grammy Awards. Censori’s nearly transparent outfit sparked a media frenzy, with many questioning the motivations behind their public appearances.
However, the attention quickly shifted back to West’s statements on X, reigniting the debate about how much longer platforms should tolerate his presence. As advocacy groups, celebrities, and the public continue to call for action, the ball is now in Musk’s court to determine whether X will take a stronger stance against hate speech or allow West’s inflammatory rhetoric to persist unchecked.
