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Why Did Networks and NFL Allow Kanye West’s Super Bowl Ad?
Kanye West’s Super Bowl ad, which aired regionally and not in all markets, was a no-frills spot that showed him in a vehicle telling people to go to his website to buy shoes. There was no music. There were no dancers. There was no professional lighting.
In the ad, he claims he spent all the money on the runtime for the ad, so he didn’t have the funds to make a fancier commercial. Is it a clever ad? Yes, it is. Whoever thought of the idea, even if it was him, deserves praise for that.
But I have a question. Would the NFL have allowed Kanye to come on stage with Usher? Would the networks that aired the ad have been okay with that? If not, then why did they take his money and air the ad?
What message does the NFL send by allowing this advertisement? Worse yet, there’s been little pushback, despite the fact that Kanye recently doubled down on his antisemitism and hatred of Jews.
The American people have just seen that you can praise Hitler, and still be featured in a Super Bowl ad.
Perhaps the KKK will have an ad including a no-frills cross-burning, where they ask people to go to their website to buy white robes.
West, who goes by the name of Ye, no doubt wants to headline at major arenas again. Whomever writes headlines at Forbes should be ashamed of themselves for their Feb. 14 article, titled “Kanye West Is Headed For Another No. 1 Album, Even As He Remains Incredibly Controversial.”
Controversial? That word doesn’t even mean something negative.
When you tweet that you will go “Death Con 3” on Jews, and praise Hitler, that’s beyond controversial. When you say you wish your kids could celebrate Hanukkah to learn about “financial engineering,” and Alex Jones is hoping you calm down, that’s beyond controversial. The only thing controversial is Forbes’ decision not to use the word “antisemitic” in the title.
West, one of the most famous artists on the planet, has tremendous influence. He is addicted to attention. But it is clear he doesn’t care if Jews are harmed by his words. What he feels in his heart can’t be known, but it doesn’t matter that much when the results are the same.
Now Kanye can go to venues and say he had an NFL Super Bowl ad. His new album, according to Forbes, will be No.1. The NFL and all those TV networks make billions a year. Do they need Kanye’s money that badly? There are Jewish NFL owners and TV executives. This doesn’t bother them? The fact that you barely hear a peep about this is a signal that the normalization of antisemitism is in full throttle.
West has been called a marketing genius, and, to a great extent, that is accurate. But what was the marketing concept behind his antisemitic rampage that caused him to lose his Adidas campaign, removing him from the list of billionaires? And worse still, how long until that campaign comes back?
I saw Kanye perform at Madison Square Garden about seven or eight years ago, and enjoyed the concert. Some of his songs are great. But that in no way gives him license to spew hatred. There is free speech, and he is allowed to say that he likes Hitler. But the NFL and TV networks don’t have to take his money for ads.
If a star spouted the virulent hatred that Kanye has spread against Jews, to another minority group, would that artist have a Super Bowl ad or be poised to have the No. 1 album?
We all know the answer. Once again, Jew hatred is the only form of hatred that is tolerated.
Next year, if a hate group wants to sell merchandise and have a Super Bowl ad and the group is rejected, they may ask why Kanye was allowed to have one. What will the NFL and TV networks say in response?
The author is a writer based in New York.
The post Why Did Networks and NFL Allow Kanye West’s Super Bowl Ad? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Hezbollah Says Lebanon Move on Army Plan Is ‘Opportunity,’ Urges Israel to Commit to Ceasefire
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and members of the cabinet stand as they attend a cabinet session to discuss the army’s plan to disarm Hezbollah, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, September 5, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati told Reuters on Saturday that the group considered Friday’s cabinet session on an army plan to establish a state monopoly on arms “an opportunity to return to wisdom and reason, preventing the country from slipping into the unknown.”
Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday welcomed a plan by the army that would disarm Hezbollah and said the military would begin executing it, without setting a timeframe for implementation and cautioning that the army had limited capabilities.
But it said continued Israeli military operations in Lebanon would hamper the army’s progress. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lebanese information minister Paul Morcos stopped short of saying the cabinet had formally approved the plan.
Qmati told Reuters that Hezbollah had reached its assessment based on the government’s declaration on Friday that further implementation of a US roadmap on the matter was dependent on Israel’s commitment. He said that without Israel halting strikes and withdrawing its troops from southern Lebanon, Lebanon’s implementation of the plan should remain “suspended until further notice.”
Lebanon’s cabinet last month tasked the army with coming up with a plan that would establish a state monopoly on arms and approved a US roadmap aimed at disarming Hezbollah in exchange for a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
Qmati said that Hezbollah “unequivocally rejected” those two decisions and expected the Lebanese government to draw up a national defense strategy.
Israel last week signaled it would scale back its military presence in southern Lebanon if the army took action to disarm Hezbollah. Meanwhile, it has continued its strikes, killing four people on Wednesday.
A national divide over Hezbollah’s disarmament has taken center stage in Lebanon since last year’s devastating war with Israel, which upended a power balance long dominated by the Iran-backed Shi’ite Muslim group.
Lebanon is under pressure from the US, Saudi Arabia and Hezbollah’s domestic rivals to disarm the group. But Hezbollah has pushed back, saying it would be a serious misstep to even discuss disarmament while Israel continues its air strikes on Lebanon and occupies swathes of territory in the south.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem last month raised the specter of civil war, warning the government against trying to confront the group and saying street protests were possible.
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UK Police Arrest Dozens at Latest Protest for Banned Palestine Action
Demonstrators attend the “Lift The Ban” rally organised by Defend Our Juries, challenging the British government’s proscription of “Palestine Action” under anti-terrorism laws, in Parliament Square, in London, Britain, September 6, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
British police arrested dozens more people on Saturday under anti-terrorism laws for demonstrating in support of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned by the government as a terrorist organization.
Britain banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged military planes. The group accuses Britain’s government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Police have arrested hundreds of Palestine Action supporters in recent weeks under anti-terrorism legislation, including over 500 in just one day last month, many of them over the age of 60.
On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near parliament in central London to protest against the ban on Saturday, with many holding up signs that said: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
London’s Metropolitan Police said officers had begun arresting those expressing support for Palestine Action. Police did not say how many arrests were made but a Reuters witness said dozens of people were detained.
Palestine Action’s ban, or proscription, puts the group alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS and makes it a crime to support or belong to the organization, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
“I can be unequivocal, if you show support for Palestine Action – an offense under the Terrorism Act – you will be arrested,” Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said on Friday. “We have the officer numbers, custody capacity and all other resources to process as many people as is required.”
Human rights groups have criticized Britain’s decision to ban the group as disproportionate and say it limits the freedom of expression of peaceful protesters.
The government has accused Palestine Action of causing millions of pounds worth of criminal damage and says the ban does not prevent other pro-Palestinian protests.
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Macron’s Meeting with American Jewry ‘Won’t Happen’ Amid Palestinian Recognition Drive, Surge in Antisemitism
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference in Paris, France, June 12, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
i24 News – French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to set up a meeting with American Jewish leaders later this month on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
i24NEWS has learned that the meeting won’t happen, firstly because Macron was only available for the meeting ahead of the UN General Assembly during Rosh Hashanah, and yet, a person invited to meet with Macron and who has knowledge of the discussions told i24NEWS the sit-down simply wasn’t going to happen, anyway.
“I think the organizations, for the most part, would not have participated,” the person said, adding that AIPAC, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee would have likely received invitations, among other entities.
“The guy has a 15% popularity rating in France. It’s not our job to help him out,” the person said.
Asked by i24NEWS whether Macron’s push for greater Palestinian state recognition or his lack of action in tackling antisemitism at home led to the stance of organized American Jewry, the person said it’s more of “the climate” which allows one to say ‘Look, the American Jews met with me,’ regardless of the content.”
The person said they are sure, if a meeting would have happened, that everybody in the room would have taken a hard line with Macron, including his “statements on Israel, the failure to respond to antisemitism” and France’s announcement this summer that it will recognize a Palestinian state later this month, and is leading an effort to get more countries to do the same.
But, the person told i24NEWS they are convinced that, in the end, while no final decision actually had to be taken, there was enough pressure that a consensus would have been reached to decline the meeting.
Of the timing of Rosh Hashanah allowing for leadership to not be forced to officially say no to Macron, the person said “G-d saves us every time.”
Another source familiar with the matter noted that it cannot be ruled out that Macron may eventually succeed in arranging a meeting with certain representatives, as the organizations are not a single unified body. However, he is unlikely to be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of groups representing American Jewry.
i24NEWS has also learned that French President Emmanuel Macron explored the possibility of visiting Israel ahead of the convention, but was advised by the Prime Minister’s Office that the timing was inappropriate. The message came as Macron continues to push for recognition of a Palestinian state, a move Israel strongly opposes. Sources further told i24NEWS that Israel is weighing additional retaliatory measures against Macron, including the potential closure of the French consulate in Jerusalem, which primarily serves Palestinians in the West Bank.