Months after Kanye West first made headlines for a string of antisemitic comments, fallout from the controversial statements continues.
Thursday (December 7), the School of the Art Institute of Chicago confirmed the GRAMMY winner’s honorary doctorate degree they issued him had been rescinded in response to his “dangerous” stance on Jewish communities.
Read their official report inside.
Taking to Billboard, a rep from the school spoke about the hoopla currently surrounding West.
“The School of the Art Institute of Chicago condemns and repudiates Kanye West’s (now know as Ye) anti-Black, antisemitic, racist, and dangerous statements, particularly those directed at Black and Jewish communities,” the school shared in a statement. “Ye’s actions do not align with SAIC’s mission and values, and we’ve rescinded his honorary degree.”
The statement arrived shortly after students from the institution launched a petition calling for the honor to be snatched from the rapper. Once word reached the school’s president, Elissa Tenny, she issued an official statement.
“After hearing from many of you, and conferring with the Board of Governors, the honorary degree awarded to Kanye West has been rescinded,” the letter, written by Tenny, read.
West’s degree rescission followed his highly publicized interview with Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, in which the ‘Gold Digger‘ star urged Jewish people to “forgive Hitler.”
“Jewish people can’t tell me who I can love and who I can’t love,” he said in the 45-minute interview titled “Saving Ye” on Censored.TV. “Jewish people — forgive Hitler today. Let it go. Let it go. Stop trying to force it on other people.”
His chat with McInnes comes as reiteration of previous praise the emcee lent to Hitler, suggesting infamous German dictator – responsible for ordering the genocide of over six million Jews during the Holocaust – “did good things.”
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