Jonah Hill Responds to Kanye West's Controversial Jewish Praise Post
Jonah Hill has publicly addressed a peculiar Instagram post from Kanye West in 2023, where the rapper declared that Hill's performance in the 2012 action comedy 21 Jump Street made him "like Jewish people again." The 42-year-old actor, who is Jewish and starred alongside Channing Tatum in the film, discussed the incident during a recent appearance on the Zane Lowe Show.
West's Bizarre Declaration and Hill's Reaction
In his 2023 post, the 48-year-old disgraced rapper wrote, "No Christian can be labeled antisemite knowing Jesus is Jew. Thank you Jonah Hill I love you." He added, "no one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people." Hill described this public gesture as "bizarre," suggesting West was attempting to make amends. "I felt that he did this bizarre public thing to kind of make up, like, 'It's all good cause I love Jonah,'" Hill stated. "[It] just sat with me in a way that it's, like, all good. I love him still, and I hope whatever happens, he can heal or whatever, and everyone can heal from all that stuff."
Hill's Praise for West Amid Controversy
Despite acknowledging the problematic nature of West's past antisemitic remarks, Hill expressed unwavering admiration for the rapper's artistic talent. "I think there is no artist I probably love more across any genre ever," Hill said. He insisted, "He's a genius, and the stuff with the hate stuff sucks. What are you going to say? It sucks, no matter who you are, to hear that. Now, do I know what's going on? No. Am I going to punch someone while they're down? No, of course not." Hill maintained that West is "probably the greatest artist to ever live."
Background on West's Antisemitic Remarks and Fallout
Kanye West has faced significant backlash in recent years for repeated antisemitic comments. In 2024, he posted on X that he was going "death con 3 on Jewish people," later claiming he was "drunk" at the time. His hate speech has resulted in multiple bans from Instagram and X, the loss of brand partnerships with Adidas and Balenciaga, and his removal from talent agency CAA. In January 2026, West published an open letter in The Wall Street Journal apologizing for his antisemitism, attributing his outbursts to side effects from a brain injury and his bipolar disorder.
Wireless Festival Cancellation and UK Entry Issues
West's planned headline performance at London's three-day Wireless Festival this summer sparked condemnation from government officials and Jewish leaders, leading several brands to withdraw sponsorship. Following the outcry, Wireless Festival announced the cancellation of its 2026 edition after the UK denied West entry into the country. A festival boss noted that while West initially had permission to enter, the home secretary could revoke it. West is currently on a comeback tour following the release of his latest album, Bully.
The Independent has contacted West's representative for comment, but no response has been provided at this time.
