After receiving backlash and ultimately getting dropped from ViacomCBS for making anti-Semitic and racially insensitive comments on his podcast, Wild ‘n Out star Nick Cannon is apologizing for his words, one day after calling ViacomCBS’ decision “unwise.”
Shortly after his apology, FOX revealed that Nick would remain the host of its show The Masked Singer.
As The Ashley told you on Wednesday, comments made during an episode of Nick’s Cannon’s Class podcast cost him his longtime hosting gig on MTV’s ‘Wild ‘N Out’ –- a show created by Nick in 2005. (Nick has since removed the controversial episode from YouTube.) After being dropped by ViacomCBS, Nick announced his plans to take ownership of his “billion-dollar ‘Wild ‘N Out’ brand” upon his exit.
ViacomCBS commented on the decision to fire Nick in a statement to TVLine, in which the conglomerate said it condemns “bigotry of any kind” and denounces “all forms of Antisemitism.” ViacomCBS also confirmed it had spoken to Nick about the controversial podcast episode –- an episode “which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories,” according to the network.
After the events of Wednesday unfolded, though, Nick took to Twitter to address the statements he made on the podcast and to “extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my during my interview with Richard Griffin.”
He also tweeted that he feels “ashamed” of his words, stating that they came from an “uninformed” and “naive” place.
“They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naive place that these words came from. The video of this interview have since been removed,” he continued. “While the Jewish experience encompasses more than 5,000 years and there is so much I have yet to learn, I have had at least a minor history lesson over the past few days and to day that it is eye-opening would be a vast understatement.”
Nick went on to thank Rabbis, community leaders and institutions who reached out to enlightened him, instead of chastising him. He also vowed that “this is only the beginning” on his education on the subject.
” … I am committed to deeper connections, more profound learning and strengthening the bond between our two cultures and every day going forward,” he added.
According to The Wrap, the apology proved to FOX that Nick was remorseful for his actions; therefore the network will be sticking by ‘The Masked Singer’ host.
“When we were made aware of Nick Cannon’s interview with Richard Griffin on YouTube, we immediately began a dialogue with Nick,” the network said in a statement released on Wednesday. “He is clear and remorseful that his words were wrong and lacked both understanding and context and inadvertently promoted hate. This was important for us to observe. Nick has sincerely apologized and quickly taken steps to educate himself and make amends.
“On that basis and given a belief that this moment calls for dialogue, we will move forward with Nick and help him advance this important conversation, broadly,” the statement continued. “FOX condemns all forms of hate directed toward any community and we will combat bigotry of any kind.”
Nick has hosted all three season of ‘The Masked Singer’ since the show premiered in January 2019 and he is set to return as the host for Season 4, which is scheduled to go into production next month. He also emcees the competition’s post-show, After the Mask, and has a development deal with the network that includes a weekly late-night TV series that has been in the works since Fall 2018.
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On Thursday, Nick announced on Twitter that, in light of the week’s events, he will be stepping away from Cannon’s Class for a while. He also deleted the majority of the photos on his official Instagram account.
“Morning radio family. I have decided to take some time away from my radio show so I can commit myself to deeper, more thorough reflection and education,” he wrote. “I will use this time to establish an action plan towards real, impactful change and advocacy aimed at bringing people together.
Morning radio family. I have decided to take some time away from my radio show so I can commit myself to deeper, more thorough reflection and education.
— Nick Cannon (@NickCannon) July 16, 2020
“I will continue to express my gratitude to the Rabbis, community leaders and institutions who have reached out to me to help enlighten me. Their input and friendship will help me as I further commit myself to more profound learning and towards strengthening the bond between the Black and Jewish cultures every day going forward.”
(Photos: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images; FOX; MTV; Twitter; Instagram)
28 Responses
Being a minority, this may be the most racist thing I have ever heard.
stay lit.
Ironic people on here are saying they’re sick of the “double standard” and that its “unfair” that him and Cheyenne get to keep their jobs, but people at Bravo are getting fired, implying there’s some “witch hunt” against white people only…But yet, no one is bringing up the fact that the white cops who murdered Breonna Taylor are still walking around free. Double standard my ass.
Nick is awesome and I will continue to support him. His music might not be good ?, but I’ll continue to watch The Masked Singer and Wild’N’Out.
Getting real tired of the double standards. I thought the point was that we were all treated as equals. Not one race, sexual preference above another. Clearly that doesn’t work if you are Nick Cannon, Cheyenne Floyd….they can spew hate because “white people are savages”? Or in Cheyenne’s case “I just want to kill every white person I see”. That’s all good and forgiven? What a heaping pile of bullshit!
I usually agree with you…but you’ve named 2 black people that have “offended” you…want me to name how many racist white people have been able to keep their jobs up until 2020? Including 45? Just let me know…I hope I don’t just out of reply characters
Didn’t necessarily say they offended me but they are examples of double standard. There are plenty of examples of racist white people, I never said that there wasn’t. But, to pretend that there aren’t other people whether that be white, Asian, homosexual, transgender, queer, Indian, Latino, Hispanic that aren’t suffering the same slights is not the case. I know people in real life, not on reality shows that were murdered for their sexual preference. There were no protests for them. There was no outcry when a white homeless man named Kelly Thomas was brutally beaten by multiple cops for no reason and killed. Fire people who are racist! Put them on blast! But if we are truly going to be equals, shouldn’t we ALL be equals? Nick was talking out of his ass persecuting people for the color of their skin or their religion. Classifying ALL people that are white or Jewish as “savages”. Flip that and imagine the came from a white person or gay person & they said that about someone of color & riots would start. I don’t agree with racism in ANY way by ANYBODY against ANYONE.
You sound very “ALL LIVES MATTER”. Nobody pretends that there aren’t bad apples on both sides, but to try and deflect and act like SEE! It’s not just white people! White people are oppressed too! White people face “racism” as well! Because 2…TWO! black reality show people said some awful things, is laughable, and honestly insulting to minorities. Always trying to deflect from the true situation at hand, and flip it around for their benefit. I think it’s because they don’t want to admit that it is as bad as it is for minorities…since white people “deal” with it too, it can’t be THAT bad for minorities. It’s sickening honestly.
?I’m so not shouting the “all lives matter” because it takes away from the entire issue. You are way reading into things by implying that my having a difference of opinion to yours somehow means I think it isn’t THAT bad for minorities. I wasn’t just referring to race. I was referring to bigotry and homophobia and anti semitism. I think it’s sad that people can be so narrow minded that they can’t possibly see others points of view. Obviously this isn’t a topic we will agree on & that’s fine. You are somehow missing that my bringing up other issues in no way means I’m downplaying BLM. Quite the contrary. But, I’m not going to keep explaining it because then it will become an all lives matter issue again.
You made it about race when you brought up Cheyenne and Nick in your first comment, implying how it’s not “fair” that they got to keep their jobs, but white people (who have gotten away with their racism for YEARS, are (finally) being held accountable for their racist and hurtful actions) are being fired…Then you tried to back track and say you were speaking for everyone…Don’t try and change your initial narrative now.
You are just bouncing all over this board slinging your words to everyone now, huh? I’m not backtracking anything. I said it before and I’ll say it again. I think it’s bullshit. Didn’t realize you were such a Nick fan. Maybe bounce on over to his page and throw him some love. Honestly, I was trying to talk calmly and rationally and have an intelligent conversation. Clearly, you are unable to do that. So, keep being mad if it makes you feel better!? I’m not going to keep going back and forth with someone who can only see things from their very small minded views.✌️
Bouncing? Naw…just calling out people’s hypocrisy. White people want to be opressed SO BAD..it’s disturbing. They think there’s some double standard against them when there has been a double standard FOR them for centuries.
What Nick said was wrong, but don’t flip it around and say he got away with it because he’s black… You can say that’s not what you meant, but you used 2 black people as an example in your intitial post.
And btw, I honestly can’t stand Nick Cannon. He’s always been such a cornball to me…dating back to his days on All That, I have no idea why they even added him to that cast. Dudes a lame, and I’m surprised he’s lasted this long in the industry. I’m speaking on black and brown people in general.
Where is the big hook that pulls him off the stage already? ??
So just to be clear, if you’re black (Nick Cannon, Cheyenne from Teen Mom) “sorry” is sufficient, but everybody else can get fired for stuff they said years ago and have apologized repeatedly for?
Just to be clear…Fox News and their entire racist line up is still on the air, Kathryn Dennis is still on Southern Charm, Taylor (Maci’s Husband) is still on TMOG, Stassi was able to keep her job for YEARS after her racist comments on her podcast, so were Brett Caprioni and the other one until this whole thing came to a head, 45 is still president of the United States, the list goes on and on for white people who have kept their jobs after “apologizing” and some haven’t even apologized at all…and you’re mad about TWO black people that got to “keep” their jobs? Meanwhile Nick just got fired from MTV? Yall are outta pocket on here lol.
When has 45 ever been racist? No one claimed that, not even Oprah, Rev Jesse Jackson, Mohammad Ali, Al Sharpton, etc until he became President. Try a different card; one that hasn’t been used ad nauseam. Please.
Umm….hey Ashley where’d my comment go? Those were ANTI-WHITE comments, as well as ANTI-SEMITIC. There was absolutely nothing about several of his statements that was specific to Jews. He hates white people. Pretend to be accurate.
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Nick Cannon Congratulations you used your free speech, paid for by men and women of all colors and and nationalities of our Military your Welcome. As a 3rd generation military Family I am glad you had the right to say what you said, but I take offense as the Savage you described me as is a folly. I do not know you nor do you know me, I have never been so insulted by anyone. I am a descendant of Native American Anglo Oklahoma dust bowl farmers and Polish & Czechoslovakian refugees sharecroppers not a very privileged background but Thank God I was raised by people who would give you the shirt off their backs, food from their mouths God fearing people who would have helped anyone who needed it. This female Caucasian women remains Blessed by all that. I am sorry for you said what you did but glad cause now we all know your beliefs.All white people are Savages and less than you based on skin color, Thank you so much for letting us know that. I wish you well Nick Cannon and Hope you got what you wanted for speaking the Hate you Feel for people you do not even know. I will Pray for You cause you need it.
Classic example of “Sorry, Not Sorry”. Are you kidding me? What are you thinking?
So unfair. Roseann lost her sitcom. Many have lost their jobs. He should be fired. No doubt still has that opinion along with his Hollywood friends. Disgusting. If you are going to have people resign and be fired then be fair.
Well then, listen up Bravo, let’s be fair here. There are Vanderpump rules people that did a hell of a lot better apology than what he did. I guess they should get to keep their jobs to. They apologized and acknowledge their wrong doings. What’s fair for one is fair for the other. We can’t strive to be equal and then unfairly punish!
Well they haven’t reprimanded Kathryn Dennis at all for her monkey message, so there’s that…everyone else that got fired deserved it…especially Stassi.
AMEN!!!
Does no one else notice that Nick’s kids are partially white? Like his ex wife… half white! Are they savages nick? How about Cheyanne ? Ryder…. is a quarter white. Do you want to murder her? The fact of the matter here is that these people who say things like this ARE tearing down their own children. Now obviously Cheyenne said these things long before Ryder was born but how are you going to explain this to you child when they’re older? To hate a race that your child is made of is hating a part of your child. It’s unacceptable. We need to be one race. The human race.
Honestly, I think this has more to do with the fact that FOX has invested tons of money in two Nick Cannon shows than it does with his color or what he said. If I recall correctly, Nick came up with the concept of The Masked Singer and brought it to FOX after he was fired by NBC. He probably has some rights to the brand, plus they are putting on his late night show this fall. FOX would rather come up with some enlightenment BS than lose their cash cow.
FINALLY!….A VOICE OF REASON!!! Thank you for not making this a racial issue, and actually looking at the facts. He didn’t own Wild n Out, so viacomCBS was able to fire him, seems like he had a lot more pull at FOX than at MTV. It’s ALWAYS all about money, not ethics.
He didn’t apologize to white people for his hate-filled, racist comments. He should be fired!
Fuckin bullshit. So sick of the double standards. Our media needs to get straightened out.
If he was white & said this about Jewish people he would be fired. If he was white and said this about black people he would be fired and dragged through the mud. The hypocrisy of all of this is nuts. It’s the same thing with Cheyanne Floyd. Everybody else that said anything remotely racist has been fired except her.