Should public figures face consequences for antisemitic remarks despite apologies?

[LydiaFunnyGums]

Why is Mental Health blamed for poor, inexcusable behaviour these days? Does the word ‘Sorry’ make it all ok?
Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless London Music Festival despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism. Keir Starmer said this is “deeply concerning” so why doesn’t he do something about it? Cancel Kanye West from performing. Awful man.
https://news.sky.com/story/keir-starmer-deeply-concerned-by-kanye-wests-wireless-festival-booking-despite-antisemitic-remarks-13528071

And it's all taking place in a very mixed Muslim/Jewish area. On one side of the park, you have the mosque of world renown Islamic terrorists and their friends. On the other, you have an Orthodox Jewish area.

People who are antisemitic should be treated exactly the same as those who are BAME. And then some more because they are not just discriminating against one protected characteristic but two: race, and religion and belief.

The Labour Party will do nothing about this because it is also antisemitic.

Notably I have seen MNet allow many antisemitic posts stand over the years.

Antisemites should be treated the same as people who are Black or from another minority ethnic background?

He claims he was suffering from psychosis when he said those things.

1. Is that believed to be true?
2. Does psychosis lead you to say horrendous things that you don’t believe?

For (2) I am minded to believe that it could on the grounds that I have a family friend who tried to do something far more horrendous whilst suffering from Post Partum Psychosis. And yet is now the most wonderful mother.

No idea about (1) though.

I don’t think that we should punish people for severe mental illness that they cannot control. Although I did think it was right that family friend was sectioned and so locked up until they weren’t a danger anymore.

I also would not personally want to go and watch Kanye at the concert. So I guess people will vote with their feet. (And their cash,)

Do you mean BAME? Or racist?

Sorry no. Badly worded, the same as other racists who are racist towards people from other groups.

Are you sure? Pretty much all racism is minimised. Would you like Antisemitism to be handled the same as anti-Black racism? I certainly would not want Jewish women to be treated like Black women. We all deserve better than that.

I would venture that if there were an anti black march in central London, the authorities would stop it.

I'm not just referencing women. Why have you brought that in?

Because I am a Black woman and therefore know how Black women are treated and wouldn't want that for any other women.

No side can consistently agree on what constitutes criticism of Israel/support of Palestine vs Antisemitism. Labelling the marches and protests as Anti-Jewish rather than a march attended by some Antisemites makes me think that any criticism of Israel will be labelled as racism, by you. Therefore I see little point in continuing this exchange. Especially if you would not concede that the Tommy Robinson protest was pretty much against all immigrants and non-Christians (with the conditional acceptance of Jewish people).

Yes I know Black people went to it. Just as lots of Jewish people attended pro-Palestine and anti-Israel marches and events. So if they don't exonerate the march of all Antisemitic aspects, then nor do the Black people who support Tommy

AFAIAC Tommy Robinson should be locked up.

My antecedents were immigrants and refugees. I understand why people come here and providing they are willing to work welcome them.

Yes definitely. I’m disgusted Kanye has been booked for this festival and everything he’s done in the last few years has been brushed under the carpet.
He may have apologised and explained it was due to his mental health but he’s not actually done anything to right his wrongs but just carried on like his swastika t shirts and heil hitler song never happened.
He’s got more followers on instagram than there are Jews in the world. And the message given is you can be antisemitic and hateful and there won’t be any consequences for this.

Pepsi have pulled out as the main sponsors.

Another sponsor pulled out- keep them
coming, this is disgraceful. However no one will care, all the antisemites pretending to care deeply about Palestinians will be all over Kanye.

DC is a Kanye fan and wants me to get him a ticket post A levels.

I am saying no, because of the Nazi stuff, and I am also wondering about whether there will be protests/ unrest etc.

I can see why he thinks it might be interesting, though.

Well he's been refused entry to the UK and the whole festival has been cancelled. So hosting a Nazi for publicity doesn't always pay.

Wireless is cancelled?!

He has faced consequences. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for front bench politician Nick Timothy after he made Islamophobic remarks.

I don’t know enough about bipolar to make a judgement on KW but if his comments were a result of mental illness rather than bigotry then it seems disablist for him to be cancelled like this.

So he should be allowed to sing antisemitic propaganda on a stage in front of thousands then it should be fine if it's the result of mental illness?

I didn’t say or imply that. Of course he shouldn’t be allowed to sing anything racist on stage, but we have hate speech laws that should be able to deal with it if he did. I was working on the assumption that he is over his mental health episode because he has apologised.

This, what else would be ok to give him a platform for?

But you did? his comments were a result of mental illness rather than bigotry then it seems disablist for him to be cancelled like this.. From which have inferred you are saying he shouldn’t be cancelled?

He's apologised before and kept on doing it. Or his PR team have anyway.

He released a song called Heil Hitler less than a year ago. But because he out a flacid apology then not allowing him to perform on a massive stage is ableist?

It is however very interesting that this cycle has played out before. West made antisemitic and racist remarks - and then apologised, right about when he signed with a new record label and released new music.

And then he went right back to making antisemitic and racist remarks, right up until last year when he released new music and signed a new record deal and planned a tour - and boom! another apology.

Mental health my arse.

Saying he shouldn’t be cancelled is clearly not the same as saying he should be allowed to sing or make antisemitic comments on stage.

To clarify, what I mean is that it seems harsh to tell him he is never allowed to enter or work in this country again because of behaviour over a year ago that didn’t physically harm anyone, that he has apologised for and that is attributed to a severe mental illness. I’d expect him to have some kind of assessment and if he is deemed to be mentally stable, then he should be allowed to do his job.

If there is a pattern of racist behaviour that I’ve been unaware if and the man is just a dickhead, then I have no problem with him being cancelled.