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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
April Roach

Wiley's Facebook and Instagram accounts permanently removed after rapper's posts abusing Jewish critics

Facebook has taken further action against Wiley by permanently removing the grime rapper's personal Facebook and Instagram accounts for "repeated violations" of its policies.

Wiley was given a seven-day Twitter ban and dropped by his management company over accusations of anti-Semitism after posting a torrent of abusive comments on his Instagram and Twitter accounts.

The grime artist has since been posting on his personal Facebook page under his name Richard Kylea Cowie, the BBC reports.

The posts aimed abuse at Jewish celebrities who expressed dismay at Wiley's comments, including Lord Alan Sugar.

Facebook initially blocked access to Wiley's Facebook and Instagram profiles for seven days and deleted content which violates its policies.

But Facebook told the Evening Standard on Tuesday it has now removed Wiley's personal accounts.

“There is no place for hate speech on Facebook and Instagram," a Facebook spokesperson said.

"After initially placing Wiley’s accounts in a seven day block, we have now removed both his Facebook and Instagram accounts for repeated violations of our policies.”

According to the BBC, Wiley's posts mentioned Golders Green - an area in London with a large Jewish community.

Jo Stevens, shadow secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport said rapper Wiley spread 'vile' anti-Semitic abuse (PA)

In one post, which appears to have been deleted, he reportedly said: "Who called the police? Are you from Golders Green? I am coming to sit down with you... Labyrinth you could come along as you have forgotten what colour you are."

The last post on his account says: "When you get money don’t forget ya skin colour don’t change even if they treat you nicely always remember they are looking at the money in you not really you as a human."

Home Secretary Priti Patel and Boris Johnson condemned Wiley's posts and questioned why it took Twitter so long to remove the posts.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "Social media companies need to go much further and faster in removing hateful content such as this.

"The message is clear: Twitter needs to do better on this.”

He said Mr Johnson shared Ms Patel's view that the social media posts were "abhorrent".

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