Rita Ora, Lewis Capaldi and James Blunt are just some of the musicians who have signed an open letter calling for the British music industry to ‘wipe out racism’ after Wiley’s anti-Semitic tweets.
The letter, which has been shared online, has also been signed by artists including Little Mix, Nile Rodgers and Niall Horan, as well as record label executives.
‘We, the British music industry, are proudly uniting to amplify our voices, to take responsibility, to speak out and stand together in solidarity,’ the letter read. ‘Silence is not an option.
‘Through music, education and empathy we can find unity. We stand together, to educate and wipe out racism now and for our future generations.’
The letter later explained why these artists have decided to speak out, referencing both anti-Semitic comments made online as well as the recent Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd.
‘Whether it be systematic racism and racial inequality highlighted by continued police brutality in America or anti-Jewish racism promulgated through online attack, the result if the same: suspicion, hatred and division,’ it stated.
‘We are at our worst when we attack one another. Minorities from all backgrounds and faiths have struggled and suffered.’
Across social media, many musicians and labels have shown their support for the movement by posting the letter alongside the hashtag #NoSilenceInMusic.
It notably comes after Wiley issued a public apology for ‘comments that were looked at as anti-Semitic’.
The rapper – real name Richard Cowie Jr – was suspended from Twitter following a rant in which he compared the Jewish community to the Ku Klux Klan and tweeted ‘Israel is not yours’.
However, Wiley denies being racist, instead stating the comments he made should have stayed between him and his manager, who is Jewish.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: ‘I just want to apologise for generalising and going outside of the people who I was talking to within the workplace and workplace I work in.
‘My comments should not have been directed to all Jews or Jewish people. I want to apologise for generalising, and I want to apologise for comments that were looked at as antisemitic.’
Wiley’s comments received a hefty amount of backlash, with many also calling for the grime star to be stripped of the MBE he received in the 2018 New Year Honours for ‘services to music’.
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