‘Friends’ star slams West’s antisemitic remarks, warns of real-life consequences of hate speech
Washington [US], February 9:
Actor David Schwimmer has publicly called for Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X following the rapper’s continued antisemitic remarks and promotion of hate speech on the platform.
Schwimmer, best known for his role as Ross Geller in ‘Friends’, took to Instagram to voice his concerns, urging Musk to take immediate action against West, whose recent posts include praise for Adolf Hitler, Nazi ideology, and hate symbols like the swastika.
“We CAN Stop Giving Him a Megaphone”
In his post, Schwimmer directly addressed Musk, criticizing the billionaire for allowing West to maintain a platform with over 32 million followers despite his repeated hate-filled statements.
“We can’t stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate-filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk,” Schwimmer wrote.
The actor highlighted the alarming impact of West’s reach, pointing out that his audience on X is twice the global Jewish population.
“Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That’s twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews.”
Criticism of X’s Moderation Policies
Schwimmer also criticized the platform’s relaxed content moderation since Musk’s acquisition, questioning why West has not been banned permanently despite previous suspensions.
“What’s worse—the fact that he identifies as a Nazi or the fact there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point?” he asked.
West was previously banned from X in 2022 after posting a swastika and making antisemitic comments, but his account was later reinstated under Musk’s leadership. The decision to allow him back on the platform has raised concerns over X’s commitment to combating hate speech.
Growing Backlash, But Lack of Outrage
While some figures, including Meghan McCain, have condemned West’s behavior, Schwimmer pointed out that public outrage has been notably lower compared to previous controversies.
His call to action follows a series of recent controversies surrounding West, including his wife Bianca Censori’s shocking red carpet appearance at the Grammy Awards, where she wore a transparent dress exposing her nude body.
Despite facing criticism, West continues to use X to spread divisive messages, prompting Schwimmer and others to demand accountability from social media platforms.