Lakeith Stanfield came under fire earlier this month for participating in a Clubhouse conversation that facilitated anti-Semitic remarks in a discussion about the teachings of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
“I definitely don’t align myself with Louis Farrakhan, I don’t stand by him,” he said.
Stanfield admitted to playing an active role in the room, as he eventually wound up moderating the discussion, but said his knowledge of Farrakhan was narrow, which prompted him to enter the room.
He added, “It was so chaotic in the room, there were a couple of outbursts.
So, I explained to her that I know that this is a very tense and emotional conversation to have, and I just want everyone to have the time to be able to engage in conversation.
“Let me just make it clear: I don’t support any form of hatred whatsoever, any kind of anti-Semitic statements that were made, anybody that tried to single out a group of people and make up allegations and say crazy things about them or their people? I don’t support that in any way whatsoever.
But a music video obtained by The Daily Beast that Lakeith Stanfield posted on YouTube in 2013 adds a troubling wrinkle to the story.
“Honestly, it wasn’t something that I did for a public viewership, like I have now.
That was a terrible mistake for me to even try and use it, even to try to get across a point that had nothing to do really with hatred.