David Schwimmer on Monday applauded sponsors who backed out of the U.K.’s Wireless Festival after Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, was announced as a headlining act in June. (Organizers have since canceled the fest altogether following public backlash.)
The “Friends” actor, who is Jewish and spoke out against Ye’s antisemitic posting spree where he self-identified as a Nazi last year, addressed the rapper’s attempt to return to the fest circuit as sponsors pulled out of the event in the lead-up to the U.K. government barring him from traveling there and, subsequently, the fest’s cancellation on Tuesday.
“Until Ye demonstrates a commitment to building back trust — not only with the Jewish community, but with ALL the fans he left heartbroken and disappointed by his hateful rhetoric the last several years — he should not be granted a platform to perform,” Schwimmer wrote in a lengthy essay on Instagram.
The actor accused Ye of becoming “one of the most recognizable hate-mongering bigots in the world” who has used his celebrity status to promote hate against Jewish people.
The actor’s post arrives as Ye claims to want to put his days of praising Hitler on social media — or in song — behind him this year as he promotes his latest album, “Bully,” which has debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Ye’s big comeback attempt has already seen him do massive shows in Mexico City and Inglewood while several other performances — including a still-on-the-books headlining act at an Italian music festival — are set for the months ahead.
Earlier this year, the rapper took out a full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal where he apologized for his antisemitism, noting that it took place amid a monthslong manic episode.
He reportedly completed his new album before the ad was published in the newspaper.
Just two days after Ye dropped the album, Wireless announced that he’d headline three nights of the festival, a move that didn’t go unnoticed by major sponsors like Pepsi and PayPal, which backed out of the event thereafter.
Schwimmer, in his essay on Instagram, pointed to Ye retracting a 2023 apology for his antisemitism only to later “double down on his virulent hatred of Jewish people.”
“An apology letter is just that: Words on paper. An advertisement, generating publicity before a concert tour. It does not erase years of abuse,” the actor wrote.
“I believe in forgiveness, but it takes much more than this.”
Ye, before Wireless called off its fest on Tuesday, said he looked to perform at the event to show “change” and bring “unity, peace, and love through my music.”
“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen,” he told Complex in a statement.
“I know words aren’t enough. I’ll have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here.”
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