In an interview ahead of Full Gear, MJF addressed recent antisemitic comments by public figures.
As always, the 26-year-old conducted much of the interview with Vulture fully in character, and most of it was devoted to promoting the AEW pay-per-view. However, he was unflinching in addressing the current controversies, agreeing that he is a role model for people who might feel hurt.
Speaking to Anne Victoria Clark, MJF referenced comments by Kanye West and Kyrie Irving:
I read the things that Kanye or Kyrie write, and in a twisted way, I’m really thankful for them, because antisemitism is not the hip thing to talk about as far as cultures that are being oppressed or held down or being ravaged and ransacked.
The fact of the matter is the Holocaust was not very long ago. People to this day are actually getting harassed in New York City over decisions that a government we don’t belong to — in Israel — is making. Our temples are constantly being desecrated with swastikas or other Nazi symbols.
So when you see Kanye and Kyrie make these statements, then you see how many people liked, retweeted, commented, and agreed, I love it, because now antisemitism’s at the forefront. I think that’s really important for change. I think the reason there hasn’t been much of a change with antisemites is because they’re really good at hiding.
When asked about his own experience of antisemitism as a professional wrestler, he added:
When you’re traveling as a professional wrestler and an athlete and you go to these small towns, you’ll hear people scream out “kike,” you’ll have wrestlers key your cars and think it’s funny to draw a Nazi symbol on your bags. It wasn’t cool for me to talk about it. “Oh, whatever dude, you’re not going through it. You’re a rich white guy.” I’m not white to a Klansman. I’m not white to an antisemite.
