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Wiley dropped by management over anti-Semitic posts Wiley dropped by management over anti-Semitic posts
(about 2 hours later)
Grime artist Wiley has been dropped by his management following anti-Semitic comments on his social media accounts. Rapper Wiley, known as the "godfather of grime", has been dropped by his management following anti-Semitic posts on his social media accounts.
His manager John Woolf said A-List Management has "cut all ties" amid a long series of posts on the rapper's accounts on Friday and Saturday. Wiley suggested Twitter had temporarily banned him from tweeting after a long series of posts on Friday and Saturday, but he remains active on Instagram.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has asked police to investigate and called for his accounts to be closed. The social media giants are facing growing pressure to close his accounts.
Wiley is known as the "godfather of grime" and received an MBE for services to music in 2018. Police said they were looking at "relevant material" as critics accused Wiley of incitement to racial hatred.
Anti-Semitic content was posted on his Instagram and Twitter accounts, which together have more than 940,000 followers. Metropolitan Police officers in Tower Hamlets said in a statement: "We have received a number of reports relating to alleged anti-Semitic tweets posted on social media. The Met takes all reports of anti-Semitism extremely seriously. The relevant material is being assessed."
Wiley shared conspiracy theories and insulted Jewish people. He has been accused of incitement to racial hatred. There are also calls for Wiley's MBE, appointed for services to music, to be revoked.
In one tweet he said "I don't care about Hitler, I care about black people", and also compared the Jewish community to the Ku Klux Klan. Wiley, 41, shared conspiracy theories and insulted Jewish people on his Instagram and Twitter accounts, which together have more than 940,000 followers.
Posts on Instagram include videos of himself and screenshots that suggest Twitter temporarily stopped him from tweeting. However, he resumed posting on Twitter later on Saturday morning. Tweets removed
In one tweet he said: "I don't care about Hitler, I care about black people", and also compared the Jewish community to the Ku Klux Klan.
On Instagram, videos of himself were interspersed with posts of screenshots - which have since been deleted - including one at about midday on Saturday suggesting Twitter has suspended him from tweeting for a week.
He had already been given a 12-hour ban on Friday night, but resumed tweeting on Saturday.
The platform has removed some of his tweets, with a note saying they violated its rules.The platform has removed some of his tweets, with a note saying they violated its rules.
Mr Woolf confirmed that the Twitter account belongs to the London-born rapper, 41, whose real name is Richard Cowie. Wiley's manager, John Woolf, confirmed that the Twitter account, which is not verified, belongs to the London-born rapper, whose real name is Richard Cowie.
The manager wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning: "Following Wiley's antisemitic tweets today we at A—ListMGMT have cut all ties with him. There is no place in society for antisemitism." Mr Woolf wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning: "Following Wiley's antisemitic tweets today we at @A_ListMGMT have cut all ties with him. There is no place in society for antisemitism."
The announcement came a few hours after Mr Woolf tweeted that he was "talking to him privately" and wanted to "educate" him.The announcement came a few hours after Mr Woolf tweeted that he was "talking to him privately" and wanted to "educate" him.
He also wrote: "I am also saying as someone who has known him for 12 years I know he does not truly feel this way."He also wrote: "I am also saying as someone who has known him for 12 years I know he does not truly feel this way."
'Deeply shocked and saddened''Deeply shocked and saddened'
In a subsequent statement, Mr Woolf said: "To be very clear here. I do not support or condone what Wiley has said today online in any way shape or form.In a subsequent statement, Mr Woolf said: "To be very clear here. I do not support or condone what Wiley has said today online in any way shape or form.
"I am a proud Jewish man and I am deeply shocked and saddened but what he has chosen to say."I am a proud Jewish man and I am deeply shocked and saddened but what he has chosen to say.
"I am speaking to key figures in my community in light of today's tweets. This behaviour and hateful speech is not acceptable to me.""I am speaking to key figures in my community in light of today's tweets. This behaviour and hateful speech is not acceptable to me."
Wiley later claimed in a video posted on Instagram that he "cut ties" with Mr Woolf. Wiley later claimed in a video posted on Instagram that he had "cut ties" with Mr Woolf - not the other way around.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it had reported Wiley to the Met Police and asked Twitter and Facebook, which owns Instagram, to close his accounts to "prevent further outpouring of anti-Jewish venom". The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it had reported Wiley to the Metropolitan Police and asked Twitter and Facebook, which owns Instagram, to close his accounts to "prevent further outpouring of anti-Jewish venom".
"We consider that Wiley has committed the offence of incitement to racial hatred, which can carry a substantial prison sentence," a statement read."We consider that Wiley has committed the offence of incitement to racial hatred, which can carry a substantial prison sentence," a statement read.
It added that it will contact the Cabinet Office to ask that Wiley's MBE be revoked. It added that it will contact the Cabinet Office to ask for his MBE be revoked.
"Wiley has many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and we have seen today that many of them truly believe the unhinged hatred that he is spreading," the statement continued. There has been growing outrage over the social media companies' responses.
"We are treating this as a very serious matter which must be met with the firmest of responses." Lord Mann, an adviser to the government on anti-Semitism, called on Twitter and Instagram to remove him from their platforms.
Others are also calling for his posts to be removed. He said some of the content glorifies a violent attack on a Jewish rabbi in London, adding: "That breaches all their standards, it's not even marginal."
Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, posted on Twitter that it was "shocking" that the platform has "done next to nothing".Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, posted on Twitter that it was "shocking" that the platform has "done next to nothing".
Luciana Berger, a Liberal Democrat politician who left the Labour Party over anti-Semitism last year, said the "bile... permeates impressionable (often younger) minds".Luciana Berger, a Liberal Democrat politician who left the Labour Party over anti-Semitism last year, said the "bile... permeates impressionable (often younger) minds".
Actors David Baddiel and Tracy-Ann Oberman, who are both Jewish, criticised Twitter's response. Actors David Baddiel and Tracy-Ann Oberman, who are both Jewish, also called for more action.
Wiley first entered the UK singles charts with Wearing My Rolex in 2008. His subsequent hits include Heatwave in 2012 and Boasty in 2019, a collaboration with rappers Stefflon Don and Sean Paul and actor Idris Elba.Wiley first entered the UK singles charts with Wearing My Rolex in 2008. His subsequent hits include Heatwave in 2012 and Boasty in 2019, a collaboration with rappers Stefflon Don and Sean Paul and actor Idris Elba.
The BBC has contacted Twitter, Facebook and the Met for comment. The BBC has contacted Twitter, Facebook and the Met Police for comment.