LaKeith Stanfield apologizes for moderating a Clubhouse chat room that became anti-Semitic

LaKeith Stanfield has issued an apology for moderating a Clubhouse chat room discussion that quickly became anti-Semitic.

According to The Daily Beast, the 29-year-old actor, who has frequently used the app in the past, became involved with an online conversation centered around the teachings of Louis Farrakhan before it was turned towards racist rhetoric.

The media outlet also confirmed that, despite the comments made in the chat room, which was hosted on Wednesday night, the performer did not make any comments that could be considered anti-Semitic.

On Friday afternoon, Stanfield shared a statement with People and to his Instagram account to explain how he did not enter the conversation with the intention of making or condoning racist comments.

‘Yesterday I entered an online chat room on Clubhouse about the teachings of Louis Farrakhan. When the room’s participants noticed me, I was quickly made a moderator of this room,’ he wrote.

The 87-year-old religious leader is well-known for his history as the head of the Nation Of Islam and for his heavily documented anti-Semitic and bigoted viewpoints.

The Judas And The Black Messiah actor went on to note that he regretted not leaving or ending the conversation once users began making racist comments. 

‘At some point during the dialogue the discussion took a very negative turn when several users made abhorrent anti-Semitic statements and at that point, I should have either shut down the discussion or removed myself from it entirely.’

According to the media outlet, some of the topics that were brought up in the chat room included the justification of remarks that compared Jewish people to termites and how Adolf Hitler could be portrayed in a positive light. 

The Academy Award-winning actor then remarked that he did not hold anti-Semitic or racist viewpoints in any capacity and expressed his regret for being involved in the discussion. 

He wrote, ‘I condemn hate speech and discriminatory views of every kind. I unconditionally apologize for what went on in that chat room, and for allowing my presence there to give a platform to hate speech. 

‘I am not an anti-Semite nor do I condone any of the beliefs discussed in that chat room,’ the performer added. 

Twitter user Kareem Rifai spoke to The Daily Beast and related that a Jewish user that was involved in the chat room reached out to the actor to express her concerns regarding the conversation, although he apparently brushed her off.

Specifically, he recalled that Stanfield ‘told her, “This is probably an emotional kind of room for you, tensions are running high, and I understand this is a very heated room.” Then he just kind of danced around it not really saying anything.’ 

On Thursday, the actor appeared to address his role as the chat room’s moderator during a discussion held by several Jewish educators and expressed that the discussion had been ‘derailed’ by the anti-Semitic commentary.

He went on to note that he would be much more careful in his future on Clubhouse and would remain vigilant for all forms of hate speech, which was well-received by those present.

The media outlet also noted that the Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel had reached out to Stanfield and offered to have a private conversation to educate him about anti-Semitism.