Rapper Wiley investigated over ‘anti-Semitic venom’

POLICE have opened an investigation into an anti-Semitic tirade by rap artist Wiley on social media, after Twitter faced criticism for not stopping it.

The London rapper, whose real name is Richard Cowie Jr, was dropped by his management company following the diatribe on Twitter and Instagram which included statements calling Jews “cowards” and “snakes”.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism asked police to investigate to stop Wiley spreading “anti-Jewish venom” and threatened to pursue a private prosecution of the grime artist.

Metropolitan Police officers are investigating the posts only tentatively curtailed by Twitter issuing a temporary ban of his account, which is followed by around 500,000 fans.

The Holocaust Educational Trust branded Wiley’s lengthy rant “racist” and said Twitter’s lack of firm action against the rapper was “pathetic”.

Police in Tower Hamlets said: “We have received a number of reports relating to alleged anti-Semitic tweets posted on social media. The relevant material is being assessed.” Beginning a series of comments on Friday evening, many of Wiley’s messages concerning Jews were still available yesterday as MPs condemned the use of anti-Semitic tropes by the rapper.

Wiley branded Jewish people “too touchy” and accused them of holding the financial and political levers of power, comparing the community to the Ku Klux Klan.

His posts also suggested black people were exploited, historically and in the music industry, by Jews in purported positions of power.

MPs Jess Phillips and Luciana Berger questioned why Twitter had not taken steps to remove the comments, and comedian David Baddiel accused the platform of not affording the same hate speech protections to Jewish people as other minorities.

A statement from the Campaign Against Antisemitisim made after it reported his comment to the authorities said: “Twitter has allowed Wiley to spew anti-Semitic venom for 24 hours.”

The campaign group said it would consider a private prosecution if no action was taken against the rapper.

Representatives of Wiley and Twitter have been contacted for comment.