Report: LeBron James' 'The Shop' shelves Kanye West episode due to rapper's 'hate speech'
For the last several years, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has used his "The Shop" show to hold wide-ranging, often very political discussions with some of the biggest names in American culture.
A recent taping with Kanye West apparently crossed a line.
James' longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter told Andscape that an episode featuring the highly and increasingly controversial rapper will not be aired due to his "hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes." James was reportedly not present during the taping.
Carter's statement, via Andscape:
“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.”
Per Andscape, West doubled down on recent antisemitic remarks during the episode, which also reportedly included shoe designer Salehe Bembury and past West collaborator Jeezy.
Kanye West's recent run of antisemitism, controversy
While Carter said he expected better from West, the rapper has been nothing if not consistent over the last few weeks. During Paris Fashion Week, he appeared at his Yeezy SZN 9 fashion show wearing a T-shirt reading "White Lives Matter," then defended the decision during an interview with Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight."
The interview, which Carlson called “interesting, deep, provocative,” spanned nearly two hours on Fox News, but Vice has since published snippets of the interview featuring unhinged claims and conspiracy theories from West, many involving Jewish people.
Around the same time, West tweeted he was "going to go death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE," which led to Twitter locking his account due to obvious antisemitism.
It appears West brought all of those sentiments to "The Shop," and the results hardly seem surprising.
