Kanye West referenced in at least 30 antisemitic incidents since October, Anti-Defamation League says

Kanye West
(Image credit: Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

There have been more than two dozen antisemitic incidents in recent months, including multiple assaults, apparently inspired by Ye's rhetoric, according to a new report.

The Anti-Defamation League says it has "documented at least 30 antisemitic incidents that directly reference Ye," the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, since October 2022, the month he threatened to go "death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE."

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In another case, 32-year-old Perin Jacobchuk allegedly physically assaulted a Jewish man in New York, shouting "F--k you, Jew" and "Kanye 2024!" A Jewish man was also allegedly "physically and verbally assaulted" in a grocery store by a group of people in Maryland who said, "Do it for Kanye!" The Anti-Defamation League additionally says that Ye's antisemitic statements have been embraced by extremist groups, and references to the rapper "have become mainstream shorthand for the hatred of — or a desire to commit violence against — Jewish people."

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement that Ye's antisemitic remarks "doubtlessly are having an impact and inspiring people to commit real-world acts of hate." The group previously condemned Ye for his "dangerous" social media posts, but he repeatedly doubled down on them before eventually professing his admiration of Adolf Hitler.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.