Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s global head of music and former Def Jam CEO, has addressed Kanye West in an open letter, condemning the artist’s continued antisemitic rhetoric and use of Nazi imagery.
Cohen, who worked closely with West during his time at Def Jam, urged the rapper to recognize the harm caused by his words. “Be more sensitive to the pain your words inflict on Jewish communities and all those who stand against hate,” he wrote.
West has faced widespread backlash for his inflammatory remarks, which include openly identifying as a Nazi and selling T-shirts featuring a swastika. His recent Super Bowl advertisement promoting a webstore selling such merchandise only intensified the controversy.
Cohen spoke about his past relationship with West in an interview with Variety, just weeks before Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which escalated into the ongoing war. When asked if he had ever witnessed antisemitic behavior from West, Cohen responded, “Never. Never. I always saw that he was loose with his feelings, but I never heard a negative comment toward me or Jewish people—at least not in front of me. And I’ve spent a lot of time around him. I was shocked and disappointed.”
In his letter, Cohen expressed his anger and sadness over West’s behavior, lamenting how much worse the situation has become. Despite being dropped by his talent agency, 33&West, on Tuesday morning, West’s music and videos remain available on streaming platforms, including YouTube.
Cohen’s letter urges West to reflect on the historical alliance between Black and Jewish communities, particularly in music. “The Jewish and Black experiences share a rich history of collaboration and mutual support,” he wrote. “From the early days of jazz and blues to Motown and beyond, our communities have uplifted each other through music and culture.”
He called on West to use his platform for unity rather than division. “Your talent and influence could heal and inspire, but instead, you’ve chosen to spread discord and harmful stereotypes.”
Lyor Cohen’s message is clear: West’s words have consequences, and with antisemitism on the rise, the responsibility that comes with his platform cannot be ignored.
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