The leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, is known for inciting controversy due to his anti-Semitic remarks and anti-white theology, but it is no secret that he has held court with some of the country’s most influential and famous figures. not.
The 86-year-old minister led a song of “death to America” and called for a separate state for black Americans. Last year, Farrakhan was among several extreme right-wing or ‘hate’ figures who permanently banned Facebook.
Farrakhan’s disputed beliefs made headlines again on Friday when sources identified the suspect in the attack on the US Capitol as 25-year-old Noah Green, who claims to be a follower of Farrakhan.
A look at Farrakhan’s past reveals that the minister has rubbed shoulders with celebrities over the years, some of whom later withdrew their support.
CHELSEA DEALS DEFEND LOUIS FARRAKHAN POST, AND APOLOGIZE: ‘I WAS WRONG’
Chelsea Handler issued an apology in June 2020 after defending Farrakhan’s comments.
(Toni Anne Barson / WireImage)
Last year in June, comedian Chelsea Handler publicly apologized after defending the praiseworthy remarks Farrakhan made in an interview on ‘The Phil Donahue Show’.
“I learned a lot from watching this powerful video,” Handler told her nearly 4 million Instagram followers at the time.
Then Handler, who is Jewish, doubled over her opinion again on the Daily Beast’s “The Last Laugh” podcast.
“I thought his message was really powerful,” Handler said according to Mediaite. ‘I did not think of the anti-Semitic case, but I do not want to take the thing down, because I felt that the message was powerful and many people did it, and it was powerful to me as he spelled it out. . That black people do not have a history of killing white people. ‘
The former host for late night declared in her position that everyone can ‘go by themselves’, but after the podcast interview, the former ‘Chelsea Lately’ presenter apologized to the Daily Beast and deleted her Instagram message. .
CAPITAL ATTACK SUSPENDED AS LOUIS FARRAKHAN FOLLOWS, NOAH GREEN
“I sincerely apologize for the posting of Louis Farrakhan’s video,” she said in the note. “I did not consider the context of his anti-Semitic and homophobic rhetoric, which is obviously contrary to my own beliefs and values.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were once photographed with controversial Nation of Islam founder.
(Charles Sykes / Invision / AP)
In addition, a photo shared by BET shows rapper CyHi da Prynce, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian with Farrakhan. In an Instagram post now removed, CyHi da Prynce said according to the New York Post that he was ‘honored’ by ‘the words he spoke to us’.
In 2018, Farrakhan’s presence at a funeral service for music icon Aretha Franklin did not go unnoticed. He sat in the pulpit at the service, which was also attended by former President Bill Clinton, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and gave performances by Faith Hill and Ariana Grande.
In addition, Farrakhan appeared in Charlamagne Tha God’s radio program “The Breakfast Club”. According to the Post, Farrakhan was happy to appear in the program because he believed it would help him reach a younger audience.
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In 2015, rapper The Game also met with Farrakhan in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March. According to BET, The Game posted a photo on Instagram of his meeting with the minister, which has since been removed.
“Spent the early part of my day with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan who received some spiritual relief as well as preparation for our march to Washington, DC,” he allegedly captioned the picture. “This October 10, 2015 for the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March …. This time we come for #JusticeOrElse.”
The store also shared several photos of the minister with other notable hip-hop stars, including Young Thug, Mos Def, Jay Electronica, Ty Dolla $ ign, Thugga, Migos and 2 Chainz.
Minister of Islam Louis Farrakhan delivers a speech and talks about US President Donald Trump at the Watergate Hotel on November 16, 2017 in Washington, DC.
(Mark Wilson / Getty Images)
Green allegedly smashed his sedan into two police officers near the North Barricade of the Capitol, the entrance where members of Congress and their assistants come and go.
The attack killed Capitol police officer William “Billy” Evans and injured another officer, who was hospitalized in a stable condition Friday night.
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Sources told Fox News it appeared to be a ‘one-off wolf’ attack and that the suspect had identified himself on Facebook as a follower of Islam who had recently lost his job.
The social media giant deleted a Facebook profile that matched the description, but Fox News reviewed a number of posts and images before it happened. The page contains photos and videos of Nation of Islam gatherings, and the biography that Green was identified as a ‘Farrakhan follower’.
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and Julius Young contributed to this report.