Chart-topping grime artist Wiley has been criticised for posting a string of antisemitic comments on Twitter.
In one of the tweets, Wiley, real name Richard Cowie, compared people of the Jewish faith to the Ku Klux Klan, while advancing an antisemitic conspiracy theory that states Jewish people control society’s business interests.
Many people were offended by Cowie’s comments, with some voicing their outrage on social media.
Stephen Pollard, editor of The Jewish Chronicle, accused Cowie of being a “racist”, and said he was ”spouting Jew hate, like neo-Nazis and the rest of them”.
The rapper and producer had written: “There are 2 sets of people who nobody has really wanted to challenge #Jewish & #KKK but being in business for 20 years you start to understand why … Red Necks Are the KKK and Jewish people are the Law...Work that out.”
Danny Stone, director of the Antisemitism Policy Trust, wrote: “The parallel is offensive & the inference is antisemitic. Jews and money. Dress it up however you like.”
Cowie also wrote that “Israel is ours”, and referred to his comments as a “Black History Lesson For Today”.
“Listen to me Jewish community Israel is not your country I’m sorry … The Star of David that’s our ting … Some people have gotten too comfortable on lands that don’t belong to them.”
“If you work for a company owned by 2 Jewish men and you challenge the Jewish community in anyway of course you will get fired” he also wrote.
The Independent has contacted Cowie’s representatives as well as the the Board of Deputies of British Jews for. Neither were immediately available.
Cowie is widely credited as one of the most influential names in grime music, and has had three number one singles in the past, including two with the group Roll Deep.
