Nick Cannon apologized Wednesday night for the comments he called “hurtful and divisive” after ViacomCBS left the host and television producer for comments the company called anti-Semitic.
Cannon, 39, wrote in a Twitter thread that he was “ashamed” of the comments he made in an episode of his “Cannon’s Class” podcast with former Public Enemy member Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin in which they discussed the racial prejudice.
Watch TODAY all day! Get the best news, information and inspiration TODAY, all day long.
In the podcast episode, which was recorded last year and aired on June 30, Cannon said blacks are the “true Hebrews”, that Jews have taken their identity and that those without dark skin “are deficient” and they have acted as “savages” throughout history. It refers to “Jews, whites, Europeans”.
“First of all, I express my sincere and sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth during my interview with Richard Griffin,” he wrote on Twitter Wednesday night.
“They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I am ashamed of the uninformed and naive place where these words come from. Since then, the video of this interview has been removed.”
Cannon added that he is educating himself on Jewish history after receiving a “revealing” lesson in recent days. He also thanked the rabbis and other Jewish leaders who came to “enlighten him” rather than “punish him.”
The “Drumline” star initially responded to the ViacomCBS dismissal in a lengthy Facebook post Wednesday, saying the company’s “reckless decision” put the media conglomerate “on the wrong side of history.” He demanded an apology and full ownership of “Wild ‘n Out” on MTV and VH1.
“I am deeply saddened at a time so close to reconciliation that the existing powers misused an important moment for all of us to come closer and learn more about each other,” he wrote. “Instead, the moment was stolen and stolen to make an example of an open black man.”
ViacomCBS, the parent company of MTV and VH1, for which Cannon produced and presented the improvisational comedy series “Wild ‘n Out,” announced Tuesday that it was cutting ties with him following his comments on the podcast.
“ViacomCBS condemns intolerance of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism,” the company said in a statement Tuesday. “While we support education and ongoing dialogue in the fight against intolerance, we are deeply concerned that Nick has not recognized or apologized for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are ending our relationship with him.”
Following his Facebook post on Wednesday, Cannon took on a more conciliatory tone on his Twitter thread later in the day.
“I want to assure my Jewish friends, new and old, that this is only the beginning of my education: I am committed to deeper connections, deeper learning, and the strengthening of the bond between our two cultures today and every day.” he wrote.
Cannon also serves as presenter of the singing competition series “The Masked Singer” on Fox. The broadcast network said in a statement to TODAY that it intends to keep Cannon on.
“Nick was sincerely apologetic and quickly took steps to educate himself and make amends,” the statement says. “On that basis, and given the belief that this moment requires dialogue, we will move forward with Nick and help him move this important conversation forward, overall.”
ViacomCBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
