Washington: Actor David Schwimmer has called for Kanye West to be banned from X, urging platform owner Elon Musk to take action against the rapper’s antisemitic remarks.

Schwimmer, best known for his role in ‘Friends’ and his vocal advocacy against antisemitism, criticised West’s continued spread of hate speech, which includes praise for Adolf Hitler, endorsement of Nazi ideology, and the use of hate symbols like the swastika, according to The Hollywood Reporter..

In a post on Instagram, Schwimmer directly addressed Musk, writing, “We can’t stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate filled, ignorant bile… but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk..”

West’s unchecked influence on X

The actor highlighted the alarming reach of West’s platform, pointing out that the rapper has 32.7 million followers—twice the global Jewish population.

“Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That’s twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews,” Schwimmer wrote.

West’s latest social media tirade follows his controversial appearance at the Grammy Awards, where his wife, Bianca Censori, shocked the public by wearing a transparent dress that fully exposed her body. The incident was widely criticised, but it was West’s inflammatory posts that reignited widespread concern.

Criticism of X’s moderation policies

Schwimmer also questioned X’s handling of hate speech, noting that West had previously been banned in late 2022 for similar offensive content, including a swastika. However, since Musk took over the platform, X has reinstated previously banned accounts and relaxed its moderation policies.

“I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own) or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point. Silence is complicity,” Schwimmer asked.

His comments echo concerns raised by other public figures, including Meghan McCain, who have condemned West’s behaviour. However, the backlash this time has not reached the levels of outrage seen in West’s past controversies.

While Schwimmer acknowledged that stopping West’s hateful rhetoric entirely may not be possible, he insisted that social media platforms should take responsibility for limiting its reach. 

(With inputs from ANI)