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Kanye West has gained many detractors in recent weeks after making a slew of antisemitic statements, and now, the rapper has even earned a new critic in a fictional character: Borat.
On Sunday, actor Sacha Baron Cohen reprised the role of the Kazakh TV personality during an appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. He appeared in character during a tribute to Grammy Award-winning Irish rock band, U2.
"I must say I'm very upset about the antisemitism in the U.S. today," Cohen said as Borat, per Deadline. "It's not fair. Kazakhstan is the number one Jew-crushing nation. Stop stealing our hobby. Stop the steal. Stop the steal."
He continued: "Your Kayne. He tried to move to Kazakhstan and even tried to change his name to Kazakhstan-ye West. But we said no. He's too antisemitic, even for us." At that, the crowd then applauded.
Cohen, who is Jewish, has long blasted social media's role in the rise of antisemitism. In 2019, he received the International Leadership Award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
West has continuously posted antisemitic content on social media in recent months, getting him locked out of platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
Back in October, the rapper said in a tweet that he was "going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE." He was suspended from Twitter earlier this month for posting an image of a swastika merged with the Star of David. And last Thursday, during an appearance on InfoWars, West praised Adolf Hitler and spoke of his "love" of Nazis, going so far as to say that "they did good things, too."
"We've got to stop dissing the Nazis all the time," added West, who officially changed his name to Ye last year.
Experts are sounding the alarm that West's tirades have done much to incite antisemitism across the United States.
However, West wasn't the only person at whom Borat took aim on Sunday. The Kazakh character also blasted former President Donald Trump—much to the current president's delight.
"I am told the president of U.S. today is here. Where are you Mr. Trump? You don't look so good," Borat said, prompting a laugh from President Joe Biden, who was in attendance with first lady Jill Biden.
"Where has your glorious big belly gone? And your pretty orange skin has become pale," Borat continued, according to The Guardian. "I see you have a new wife. Wawawoooah! She is very erotic. I must look away before I get a Bono."
Newsweek reached out to representatives for Cohen and West for comment.
Update 12/5/22, 10:55 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and background.
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Simone Carter is a Newsweek reporter based in Texas. Her focus is covering all things in national news. Simone joined ... Read more