Hip-hop legend Ice Cube has defended himself for sharing multiple anti-Semitic tweets and conspiracy theories this week, saying he is not “anti-anybody,” but that he’s been “telling my truth.”
What We Know:
- The Next Friday star tweeted a picture of a Monopoly board being played by a group of older men with exaggerated physical features typical of anti-Semitic tropes.
https://twitter.com/icecube/status/1269277079914209282
- Very quickly, critics called out Cube for his imagery and accusations, with one user writing, “Cube, this is anti-Semitic trope. Please take it down as it suggests Jews control everything. And trust me, we don’t. Because if Jews controlled everything, I would be rich af & Donald Trump would be in prison. #DoBetter.”
- Another user added more, tweeting: “Hi Cube. I’m sure you didn’t realize, but that’s a famous anti-Semitic meme you posted. Please take it down. Jews stand with you. I know you wouldn’t mean to fight hate with more hate. #BlackLivesMatter.”
- The rapper and actor’s response came late Wednesday on Twitter. Ice Cube retweeted Temple Professor Marc Lamont Hill, who had called out the rapper for posting several anti-Semitic images. Ice Cube said: “What if I was just pro-Black? This is the truth brother. I don’t lie on anyone; I didn’t say I was anti-anybody. DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE. I’ve been telling my truth.”
- Ice Cube, in a different tweet, also denied his account had been hacked.
- The Star of David images shared on Wednesday, also received criticism, and were covered with a “potentially sensitive content” warning by Twitter.
https://twitter.com/icecube/status/1270752897899229184
- Ice Cube also shared images of Egyptian statues on Wednesday that have been linked to a Russian propaganda website.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) June 10, 2020
- Ice Cube has been tweeting and sharing pictures at a frantic pace in the last few weeks, following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The rapper on Wednesday shared a picture of Louis Farrakhan, the nation of Islam leader who has been blasted multiple times for anti-Jewish comments and pushed back against claims he was “evil.” Claims of anti-Semitism have dogged Ice Cube since the early 1990s, when his song “No Vaseline” included the lyrics “cause you let a Jew break up my crew,” referring to former N.W.A manager Jerry Heller.
The Honorable Louis Farrakhan continues to warn America to this very second and he’s labeled one of your “evil names” and you turn your ears off. Why is the truth so offensive that you can’t stand to hear it? pic.twitter.com/dhkMZTCyLQ
— Ice Cube (@icecube) June 11, 2020
- Adam Serwer, a writer for The Atlantic, tweeted, “Conspiracy theories allow their proponents to flatter themselves into thinking base prejudices are but marks of intellectual sophistication. Even so, ‘cubes are symbols of Jewish control’ reaches a new frontier of stupid when offered by a guy best known as … Ice Cube.”
- The Simon Wiesenthal Center tweeted, “Shame, two years ago we met with @icecube to turn a new page. Now when it counts, instead of using his notoriety to promote peace in a fractured America he regresses to classic #antisemitic tropes.”
What do you make of Cube’s tweet controversy? Sound off with your take down in the comments.
