Nick Cannon attends the Premiere Of Netflix's "Sextuplets" at ArcLight Hollywood on August 07, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Credit: LEON BENNETT/WIREIMAGE/GETTY
The Shade Room reported on August 12 that the television personality was prepared to file a lawsuit against ViacomCBS for $1.5 billion over his sketch comedy and improv game show. Cannon created the show and serves as its host, and executive producer.
Cannon was reportedly taking legal action after his contract was terminated after he made anti-semitic remarks during an episode of his podcast, Cannon's Class. According to The Blast, the $1.5 billion in damages Cannon allegedly sought was the estimated value of Wild 'N Out.
On July 14, Cannon was dropped from ViacomCBS after calling Black people "true Hebrews."
"You can't be anti-Semitic when we are the Semitic people," Cannon said during a June episode of his podcast, which included former Public Enemy member Professor Griff. In a 1989 interview, Griff blamed Jewish people for "the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe."
"When we are the same people they want to be. That's our birthright," Cannon added.
The media personality had been working with ViacomCBS for over 20 years under the Nickelodeon and MTV brands of the media company.
"While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him," a statement from ViacomCBS read on July 14.
The day before Cannon was fired from the media conglomerate, he took to Facebook to explain himself. "Anyone who knows me knows that I have no hate in my heart nor malice intentions," Cannon wrote at the time. "I do not condone hate speech nor the spread of hateful rhetoric. We are living in a time when it is more important than ever to promote unity and understanding."
Although Cannon shared another Facebook post where he apologized for his remarks on July 15, he demanded for the complete ownership of Wild 'N Out, along with complete ownership for the MTV show.
"As for Viacom, who is now on the wrong side of history, I will continue to pray for you," Cannon wrote. "I don't blame any individual, I blame the oppressive and racist infrastructure. Systemic racism is what this world was built on and was the subject in which I was attempting to highlight in the recent clips that have been circulating from my podcast. If I have furthered the hate speech, I wholeheartedly apologize."
"But now I am the one making demands," he continued. "I demand full ownership of my billion dollar Wild 'N Out brand that I created, and they will continue to misuse and destroy without my leadership! I demand that the hate and back door bullying cease and while we are at it, now that the truth is out, I demand the Apology!"
Newsweek did not receive comment from ViacomCBS at the time of publication.
More Nick: Nickelodeon Upfront 2020 Roundup!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have your say by leaving a comment below! NickALive! welcomes friendly and respectful comments. Please familiarize with the blog's Comment Policy before commenting. All new comments are moderated and won't appear straight away.