B’nai Brith Canada sent a letter Friday to the owners of the L’Olympia theater in Montreal, urging them to cancel a Dec. 4 performance by musician Freeze Corleone.
“Mr. Corleone is openly anti-Semitic and hateful,” read the letter signed by Marvin Rotran, the national director of the B’nai Brith Human Rights League.
“He continued to exploit and abuse his platform to espouse particularly virulent anti-Semitism.”
In an interview on Sunday, Rotrand said Freeze Corleone has compared himself to Adolf Hitler and his lyrics include Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic tropes.
“His lyrics are clearly anti-Semitic, practically inciting hatred and violence against Jews,” he said.
“There is the denial of the Holocaust and the pleasure expressed that the Holocaust happened, and clear lyrics comparing himself to Hitler.”
Rotrand says his team will speak to the Canada Border Services Agency and Quebec authorities in hopes that the artist will not be allowed to appear.
The rapper’s albums have drawn widespread criticism in France, including from the International Union Against Racism and Anti-Semitism.
In 2020, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin tweeted that the government was studying the possibility of prosecuting Freeze Corleone for what the politician described as “unspeakable” Nazi-apology and anti-Semitism.
But Rotrand said the artist does not appear to have been convicted of a hate crime.
The Olympia’s management team did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Rotrand said they appeared to cite freedom of expression as their justification for allowing the show to go ahead.
“We don’t think hate speech is free speech,” Rotran said, adding that he didn’t think the space would be so accepting of an artist who wrote racist lyrics targeting blacks or Asians.
The letter B’nai Brith sent to the venue notes the recent backlash against American artist Kanye West, who was dropped by his talent agency and other partners after making anti-Semitic comments.
Rotrand said theater management has not immediately responded to B’nai Brith’s letter.
The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs also issued a statement denouncing the upcoming broadcast, which comes as reports of anti-Semitic incidents rise around the world.
“We must not be blind to the messages of Nazi ideology, Hitler or Third Reich apologists, conspiracy theories or the trivialization of the Holocaust,” said Eta Yudin, the organization’s Quebec vice-president.
“We know very well where they are leading.”
CIJA said that if the venue’s owners don’t cancel, they should at least donate the proceeds to “causes that promote education, peace and coexistence,” such as the Montreal Holocaust Museum.
Freeze Corleone management could not be reached for comment by The Canadian Press.
title: “Jewish Groups Denounce Upcoming Montreal Show By Rapper Accused Of Anti Semitism " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “Alfonzo Saine”
B’nai Brith Canada sent a letter Friday to the owners of the L’Olympia theater in Montreal, urging them to cancel a Dec. 4 performance by musician Freeze Corleone. “Mr. Corleone is openly anti-Semitic and hateful,” read the letter signed by Marvin Rotran, the national director of the B’nai Brith Human Rights League. “He continued to exploit and abuse his platform to espouse particularly virulent anti-Semitism.” In an interview on Sunday, Rotrand said Freeze Corleone has compared himself to Adolf Hitler and his lyrics include Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic tropes. “His lyrics are clearly anti-Semitic, practically inciting hatred and violence against Jews,” he said. “There is the denial of the Holocaust and the pleasure expressed that the Holocaust happened, and clear lyrics comparing himself to Hitler.” Freeze Corleone is scheduled to perform at Montreal’s Olympia Theater on December 4th. (Freeze Corleone/Instagram) Rotrand says his team will speak to the Canada Border Services Agency and Quebec authorities in hopes that the artist will not be allowed to appear. The rapper’s albums have drawn widespread criticism in France, including from the International Union Against Racism and Anti-Semitism. In 2020, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted that the government was studying the possibility of prosecuting Freeze Corleone for what the politician described as “unspeakable” Nazi-apology and anti-Semitism. But Rotrand said the artist does not appear to have been convicted of a hate crime. The Olympia’s management team did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Rotrand said they appeared to cite freedom of expression as their justification for allowing the show to go ahead. “We don’t think hate speech is free speech,” Rotran said, adding that he didn’t think the space would be so accepting of an artist who wrote racist lyrics targeting blacks or Asians.
Reports of anti-Semitic incidents are increasing
The letter B’nai Brith sent to the venue notes the recent backlash against American artist Kanye West, who was dropped by his talent agency and other partners after making anti-Semitic comments. Rotrand said theater management has not immediately responded to B’nai Brith’s letter. The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs also issued a statement denouncing the upcoming broadcast, which comes as reports of anti-Semitic incidents rise around the world. “We must not be blind to the messages of Nazi ideology, Hitler or Third Reich apologists, conspiracy theories or the trivialization of the Holocaust,” said Eta Yudin, the organization’s Quebec vice-president. “We know very well where they are leading.” CIJA said that if the venue’s owners don’t cancel, they should at least donate the proceeds to “causes that promote education, peace and coexistence,” such as the Montreal Holocaust Museum. Freeze Corleone management could not be reached for comment by The Canadian Press.
