On Wednesday (Jan. 24), Erykah Badu caused a stir on social media after her controversial comments surfaced about finding the “good” in Adolf Hitler.
In an interview with Vulture, Badu labeled herself a “Humanist” and cited Hitler’s “terrible childhood” as a reason for her empathy. “I see good in everybody. I saw something good in Hitler,” Badu revealed to interviewer David Marchese. She also spoke about Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrkhan and how her admiration for him in some areas doesn’t mean she agrees with everything he says and does.
Johnathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, caught wind of Badu’s comments and sounded off on Twitter. “Erykah Badu, I read your interview in @Vulture, and I have a few thoughts. First, you are ignoring the plain facts about Farrakhan: It is well-known that he is a virulent anti-Semite & racist. Don’t believe me? Click here,” tweeted Greenblatt, who redirected users to a 2015 piece written by the ADL denouncing Farrakhan. “Second, I also like to think that there is good in all people, but Hitler is pure evil. I don’t care if he painted or was a vegetarian; Hitler is responsible for the deaths of 6 million Jews & a war that claimed the lives of tens of millions. Shame on you for downplaying that.”
To close out his response, Greenblatt pointed out his disappointment in Badu as a role model and urged her to issue an apology for his statements. “You are a role model to many, and as such, you should immediately apologize for these irresponsible and misguided comments,” he wrote.
Elsewhere in Badu’s interview with Vulture, she refused to make any judgments about Bill Cosby, despite the numerous sexual assault allegations against him. “Because I love Bill Cosby, and I love what he’s done for the world. But if he’s sick, why would I be angry with him?” she questioned. “The people who got hurt, I feel so bad for them. I want them to feel better, too. But sick people do evil things; hurt people hurt people.”
Take a look at Greenblatt’s responses below:
Erykah Badu, I read your interview in @Vulture, and I have a few thoughts. First, you are ignoring the plain facts about Farrakhan: It is well-known that he is a virulent anti-Semite & racist. Don’t believe me? Click here: https://t.co/eCSotMeiiT pic.twitter.com/Fm4jepTTcp
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 24, 2018
Second, I also like to think that there is good in all people, but Hitler is pure evil. I don’t care if he painted or was a vegetarian; Hitler is responsible for the deaths of 6 million Jews & a war that claimed the lives of tens of millions. Shame on you for downplaying that.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 24, 2018
You are a role model to many, and as such, you should immediately apologize for these irresponsible and misguided comments.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 24, 2018