In an exclusive statement to Andscape, Maverick Carter, the SpringHill Company CEO, said a recently-taped episode of The Shop featuring Kanye West will not air.
“Yesterday we taped an episode of The Shop with Kanye West. Kanye was booked weeks ago and, after talking to Kanye directly the day before we taped, I believed he was capable of a respectful discussion and he was ready to address all his recent comments. Unfortunately, he used The Shop to reiterate more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes.
“We have made the decision not to air this episode or any of Kanye’s remarks. While The Shop embraces thoughtful discourse and differing opinions, we have zero tolerance for hate speech of any kind and will never allow our channels to be used to promote hate.
“I take full responsibility for believing Kanye wanted a different conversation and apologize to our guests and crew. Hate speech should never have an audience.”
Sources close to the production say West doubled down on his recent antisemitic remarks during the episode. Other guests included shoe designer Salehe Bembury and Jeezy, whom West collaborated with on 2008’s Grammy-nominated record “Put On.” Los Angeles Laker and SpringHill Company co-founder LeBron James was not present at the taping.
The pulled episode of The Shop is just another incident in a string of bizarre media moments for West in the last week. During West’s recent runway show at Paris Fashion Week, his decision to debut shirts with the phrase “White Lives Matter” drew immediate criticism. Sherrilyn Ifill, the former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, called West’s rhetoric “dangerous.”
His Oct. 6 appearance on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight featured comments on abortion in the Black community, being a political outsider, singer Lizzo’s body, and, of course, his ex-wife Kim Kardashian.
West’s social media accounts were restricted after he reproduced a text conversation with Sean “Diddy” Combs on Instagram (he threatened to use Combs as “an example” to the Jewish people) — and later tweeted that he planned to go “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” On Tuesday, Motherboard obtained unaired footage from West’s interview with Carlson. The unedited clips showed West continuing to make antisemitic remarks.
