Nick Cannon
Nick CannonREUTERS
The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) today praised ViacomCBS for firing Nick Cannon after the TV host, producer and actor spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on a recent podcast. The NCYI called on FOX to follow the example set by Viacom-CBS and remove Cannon as host of “The Masked Singer,” which airs on its network.

Earlier this week, the NCYI called for Cannon to be fired and questioned why his offensive podcast continued to remain on YouTube’s platform if it violates their guidelines for hate speech, which state that “[h]ate speech is not allowed on YouTube” and that YouTube will “remove content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on…religion.”

“We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast ‘Cannon’s Class’ on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,” Viacom-CBS said in a statement. “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.”

Cannon addressed the controversy in a Facebook post earlier today, as well as in a Twitter post on Monday afternoon. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions,” he tweeted. “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.”

“By disseminating Protocols of the Elders of Zion-type conspiracy theories against Jews and anti-Semitic tropes on his YouTube channel, Nick Cannon demonstrated a callous disregard for basic human decency and religious tolerance, and exhibited a degree of anti-Semitism that makes your skin crawl,” said NCYI President Farley Weiss. “We commend Viacom-CBS for acting swiftly to make it clear that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated, and strongly urge FOX to do the same and immediately terminate its relationship with Mr. Cannon.”

“Nick Cannon’s failure to comprehend the danger that his racist rhetoric poses and his failure to issue a heartfelt apology which acknowledges that his statements were anti-Semitic and false, are both indicative of his apparent inability to recognize that hate has no place anywhere,” Weiss added. “Denigrating the Jewish community by perpetuating anti-Semitic tropes is despicable, and Mr. Cannon must be held accountable for his outrageous and racist conduct.”