Lyor Cohen Blasts Kanye West Following ‘Nazi’ Outburst: ‘I Am Deeply Disappointed’

Kanye West could have, should have used his powers for good instead of evil.

That’s the message from Lyor Cohen, who has penned an open letter to Kanye following the rapper’s strange, and very public, allegiance to the extreme right.

“I am deeply disappointed and troubled by your recent actions involving the use of Nazi symbols and antisemitic rhetoric,” writes Cohen. “Your words and actions are not only offensive but triggering to all decent people who recognize the horrors of the Holocaust and the suffering of millions.”

Born in New York City to Israeli immigrants, the 65-year-old executive isn’t alone in feeling disappointed by Kanye’s ugly rants on social media.

Cohen, however, isn’t just anyone.

As global head of music at Google/YouTube, he’s one of the most powerful players in the music industry, confirmation of which came with his top 10 ranking (at No. 8) in Billboard’s Power 100 rankings.

Cohen worked closely with West when he was CEO of Def Jam Recordings, and was flanked by Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge and Kanye, wearing a red MAGA hat, in a photograph that went viral in 2018.

Then and now, Cohen has had to distance himself from Kanye. A month after that photo worked its way across social media, Cohen spoke with Pitchfork about controversial snap, the controversy that ensued, and his own “OK” hand gesture.

“I was on the way to the restroom and there was Lucian and Kanye was coming out, and he said, ‘Oh wow, we’re all together. Let’s take a photo.’ I thought he was going to take a photo and send it to Lucian and myself. I had no idea that he was going to put that on social media.”

While Kanye’s latest, bizarre outburst on X isn’t his first, this rant trawls new depths. Kanye’s Yeezy.com ad booked for the 2025 Super Bowl turned out to be a trolling exercise. West flipped the website in the hour after the ad aired, replacing its previous content with just one item: a swastika T-shirt for sale, at US$20.

The station execs who ran it and media buyers who approved the spot were in the dark about those plans, according to Variety. The site is now down.

Earlier, the hip-hop superstar proclaimed himself to be a Nazi. His X account has since been deactivated and he shared strings of racist and antisemitic posts, from declaring “I’m a Nazi” to calling Hitler “so fresh.”

The backlash has been shift and harsh. Kanye was dumped by talent agency 33&West, lawsuits have followed.

“Your talent and reach could be used to heal and inspire, to bridge divides and promote understanding,” writes Cohen. “Instead, you’ve chosen a path that sows discord and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”

Read Lyor Cohen’s open-letter to Kanye West below.

Dear Kanye,

I am deeply disappointed and troubled by your recent actions involving the use of Nazi symbols and antisemitic rhetoric. Your words and actions are not only offensive but triggering to all decent people who recognize the horrors of the Holocaust and the suffering of millions.

With antisemitism on the rise, your voice and influence carry a significant responsibility. I urge you to be more sensitive to the pain your words inflict on Jewish communities and all those who stand against hate.

Your talent and reach could be used to heal and inspire, to bridge divides and promote understanding. Instead, you’ve chosen a path that sows discord and perpetuates harmful stereotypes.

The Jewish and Black experiences share a rich history of collaboration and mutual support, particularly in the music industry. From the early days of jazz and blues to the groundbreaking work of Motown and beyond, our communities have enriched each other through music and culture.

I urge you to reflect on this shared legacy and use your platform to build upon the love and understanding that have always existed between our communities.

Sincerely,

Lyor