David Schwimmer says Kanye West didn’t apologize properly

Actor David Schwimmer took to social media on Monday to thank several corporate sponsors who have withdrawn their support from the British Wireless Festival, where Ye, formerly Kanye West, will headline three nights in June. He asks the remaining sponsors to do the same and emphasizes that the hip-hop superstar has still not issued a convincing apology for years of anti-Semitic statements.

“It’s great to see companies have moral clarity,” Schwimmer wrote of Pepsi, PayPal and Diageo, three sponsors that cut ties with Wireless over Ye’s booking. (He did not specifically mention a fourth sponsor who also split from the festival on Monday, Rockstar Energy Drinks.) “Unlike Wireless and Festival Republic, they decided not to platform an artist who became one of the most recognizable hate-mongering bigots in the world….”

Schwimmer cited that Ye released the song “Heil Hitler,” selling a swastika T-shirt and admitting he was a Nazi last year, only to be welcomed into the upcoming festival in London, as well as a pair of star-packed, sold-out shows at LA’s SoFi Stadium last week.

He wrote that “about two months ago (Ye) claimed to apologize for everything in a paid ad he took out in the Wall Street Journal — perhaps part of a PR scheme to calm people down just before his long-planned return to the stage. Remember: Ye has apologized before, only to retract that apology and double down on his virulent hatred of the Jewish people.”

“This time,” Schwimmer continued, “he explained that it was a health issue that had him specifically targeting Jews with hate speech and threats of violence. So he’s launching a comeback, having recently played SoFi Stadium in California (the Kroenke family did you know?), supported by Lauryn Hill, Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Don Toliver – artists who seem to be shaking off his history of rabid anti-Semitism. Or maybe endorsing it? Hard to say, since none of them ever publicly denounced his previous comments.”

Schwimmer expressed skepticism about West’s Wall Street Journal ad, which includes contrite statements that the rapper has not made in live interviews or other public appearances. “An apology letter is just that: words on paper,” the actor wrote. “An ad that generates publicity before a concert tour. It doesn’t erase years of abuse. … It’s fine if his famous friends pat him on the back and say, ‘It’s all good.’ “But the community he harmed most has no reason to trust that his apology is authentic.”

Schwimmer summarized his 500-plus-word statement by writing: “I believe in forgiveness, but it takes much more. Until Ye demonstrates his commitment to regaining trust – not just with the Jewish community, but with ALL the fans he has left heartbroken and disappointed by his hateful rhetoric over the years – he should not be given a platform to act. If he does, he is tacitly complicit in what these companies know is wrong, unethical and is immoral.” And, he added, citing several Wireless sponsors that have apparently stayed the course so far: “I hope Budweiser, Beat Box Beverages, Drip water and Big Green Coach come to the same conclusion.”

The Wireless Festival, which is putting tickets on sale for Ye’s three-day headlining performance this week, is holding out against pressure to cancel the rapper, which is coming not only from sponsors but also from government officials in Britain, including the prime minister.

Melvin Benn, director of Festival Republic, the British promoter behind Wireless, issued a statement Variety on Monday he defended Ye based on his own experiences with people with mental health problems. “I have witnessed many episodes of despicable behavior that I have had to forgive and move on from,” he wrote. “If I wasn’t before, I have become a person of forgiveness and hope in all aspects of my life, including work.”

He called Ye’s previous statements about the Jews and Hitler “abhorrent,” but that they “do not give him a platform to glorify opinions of any kind,” but only to sing songs that “are enjoyed by millions.” “Forgiveness and giving people a second chance is becoming a lost virtue in this increasingly divisive world,” he said, “and I would ask people to reflect on their immediate comments of disgust at the likelihood that he would perform (as mine was) and offer him some forgiveness and hope, as I have decided to do.”

Festival Republic, which bills itself as “Britain’s leading festival and events promoter”, is part of the Live Nation Entertainment Group.

Although Ye’s performance as headliner of the festival had been controversial since it was announced last week, and the mayor of London had disavowed it, the furore intensified on Sunday after Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Ye’s performance in a statement to British newspaper The Sun. “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless, despite his past anti-Semitic comments and celebration of Nazism,” he said. “Anti-Semitism in any form is abhorrent and must be vigorously opposed wherever it occurs. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure that Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe.”

Schwimmer has a history of trying to hold Ye publicly accountable.

In February 2025, a few days after Ye posted a series of anti-Semitic tweets on “We can’t stop a deranged fanatic from spewing hate-filled, ignorant bile,” Schwimmer wrote at the time, “but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk. Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform,

Schwimmer’s full statement, as posted on Instagram:

Thank you Pepsi, PayPal and Diageo.

It’s great to see companies with moral clarity.

These brands have withdrawn sponsorship from Wireless Festival, which recently disgraced itself by scheduling Ye (formerly Kanye West) as its headliner.

Unlike Wireless and Festival Republic, they decided not to stage an artist who became one of the most recognizable hate-mongering bigots in the world – while the other organizations are just trying to profit from it.

For years, Ye has used his considerable fame to promote hatred and violence against Jews, spreading anti-Semitic lies and stereotypes among his 33 million followers – more than twice the number of Jewish people alive today.

Less than a year ago, Ye released the song “Heil Hitler” (rightly banned from all major streaming platforms), sold swastika T-shirts on his website, claimed to be a Nazi and threatened to kill Jews.

But about two months ago, he claimed to have apologized for it in a paid ad in the Wall Street Journal — perhaps part of a PR plan to calm people down ahead of his long-planned return to the stage.

Remember: You have apologized before, but you retract that apology and double down on his virulent hatred of the Jewish people.

This time, he explained that it was a health condition that caused him to specifically target Jews with hate speech and threats of violence.

So he’s launching a comeback, after recently playing SoFi Stadium in California (the Kroenke family did you know?), backed by Lauryn Hill, Travis Scott, CeeLo Green and Don Toliver – artists who seem to be shaking off his history of fanatical anti-Semitism. Or maybe endorse? Hard to say since none of them have ever publicly condemned their past comments.

The point is that Ye’s words and actions in recent years have caused incalculable, irreparable damage. He has stirred up global hatred and incited violence against Jews everywhere, and his erratic behavior has repeatedly shown that he cannot be trusted. It’s okay when his famous friends pat him on the back and say, “It’s all good.” But the community he harmed most has no reason to trust his apology to be authentic.

If he was sincere, he would take action to repair the damage he had caused.

He could officially release the song ‘Heil Hitler’ and disown it explicitly, directly and publicly.

He could meet with Jewish leaders or artists to have a public conversation about his rehabilitation and to make amends.

He could offer to donate some of his hefty Wireless profits to one or more Jewish charities in Britain – where attacks on Jews, synagogues and Jewish businesses are among the highest on record.

An apology letter is just that: words on paper. An advertisement that generates publicity prior to a concert tour. It doesn’t erase years of abuse.

I believe in forgiveness, but it takes much more than this. On the other hand, I don’t benefit from his performance at Wireless.

Until Ye demonstrates his commitment to regaining trust – not just with the Jewish community, but with ALL the fans he left heartbroken and disappointed by his hateful rhetoric in recent years – he should not be given a platform to perform.

To do so is to be tacitly complicit in what these companies know is wrong, unethical and immoral.

I hope Budweiser, Beat Box Beverages, Drip water and Big Green Coach come to the same conclusion.