YouTube star David Vujanic, fêted by Jeremy Corbyn for opposing racism, apologises for years of antisemitic tweets
YouTube star David Vujanic, who was fêted by Jeremy Corbyn for his anti-racist work following an interview last week, has apologised for years of antisemitic tweets. Last week he interviewed Mr Corbyn who praised him, and was photographed clasping hands with him. The interview has now been deleted and so have the tweets.
Political blog Guido Fawkes discovered a number of antisemitic tweets, following which Campaign Against Antisemitism has unearthed even more.
Mr Vujanic had tweeted in 2012 that “Hitler was playing the Jew challenge game”.
In another message that year, he had said that “Jew goals are my specialty on FIFA”, a computer game. Some players of the game have taken to referring to a goal scored by one player who did very little on the back of skilful play by another player as a “Jew goal”, the implication being that Jews are lazy parasites benefitting from the work of others.
We also found evidence that Mr Vujanic subscribed to the stereotype of Jews as wealthy and miserly. In 2011 he tweeted: “#YouKnowSomeonesRich if they’re Jewish”. In 2012 he wrote: “My Jewish boy that has 15k in the bank asked for his 10p back that he borrowed me”. The same year he also wrote: “How can my friend @smythe92 PAINT his [tyre] rims black instead of getting new ones…..pains me to say he’s Jewish too.”
However some of Mr Vujanic’s comments are more recent. In 2014 he wrote: “As long as the USA is funded by the Zionist lobby. Violence outbreaks will remain. It’s all about the £££”.
Having been caught, Mr Vujanic has now apologised and deleted the tweets, writing: “Hi everyone, some of my old tweets have been unearthed and they’re absolutely vile. I want to apologise sincerely. My younger self was completely ignorant, unaware and stupid. These tweets do not represent my beliefs and views. Discrimination is NEVER acceptable. Love, David”
A spokesperson for Mr Corbyn said: “David Vujanic’s old tweets were absolutely vile and he is right to apologise for them and recognise that hate and discrimination have no place in our society.”
Mr Vujanic’s apology notwithstanding, questions remain over how Mr Corbyn’s team could possibly have set up an interview in which he fêted someone who had expressed clear antisemitic views as a leading light against racism. It is not the first time.
It was great to talk to @DavidVujanic with @COPA90 while I was visiting the Arsenal last week in support of Show Racism the Red Card. https://t.co/fWlNdCXeel
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) February 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/DavidVujanic/status/964461362956161025
