The leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, is known to generate controversy due to his previous anti-Semitic comments and anti-white theology, but it is no secret that he held court with some of the country’s most influential and famous figures.
The 86-year-old minister led a cry for “death to America” and called for a separate state for black Americans. Last year, Farrakhan was among several far-right or “hate” figures that Facebook has permanently banned.
Farrakhan’s contested beliefs made headlines again on Friday when sources identified the suspect in the United States Capitol attack as 25-year-old Noah Green, who claimed to be a Farrakhan follower.
A look at Farrakhan’s past reveals that the minister has lived with celebrities over the years, some of whom later withdrew their support.
CHELSEA HANDLER DEFENDS LOUIS FARRAKHAN POST, THEN APOLOGY: ‘I WAS WRONG’
Chelsea Handler filed an apology in June 2020 after defending Farrakhan’s comments.
(Toni Anne Barson / WireImage)
Last June, comedian Chelsea Handler publicly apologized after defending Farrakhan’s praise in an interview on “The Phil Donahue Show”.
“I learned a lot by watching this powerful video,” Handler told almost 4 million Instagram followers at the time.
Then, Handler, who is Jewish, doubled her opinion, again on the podcast “The Last Laugh” by the Daily Beast.
“I found his message really powerful,” said Handler, according to Mediaite. “I wasn’t thinking about the anti-Semitic thing, but I don’t want to take it down because I thought the message was powerful and many people thought it was, and the way he spelled it was powerful for me. That black people don’t have a history of killing of whites. “
The former dawn presenter stated in her position that everyone “can fuck themselves”, but after the podcast interview, the former “Chelsea Lately” presenter apologized to the Daily Beast and deleted her Instagram post.
SUSPECTED CAPITOL ATTACK IDENTIFIED AS LOUIS FARRAKHAN FOLLOWER, NOAH GREEN
“I want to sincerely apologize for posting the Louis Farrakhan video,” she said in the note. “I did not consider the context of his anti-Semitic and homophobic rhetoric, which is, of course, contrary to my own beliefs and values.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have already been photographed with the controversial founder of the Nation of Islam.
(Charles Sykes / Invision / AP)
In addition, a photo shared by BET shows Prynce rapper CyHi, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian alongside Farrakhan. In an Instagram post now deleted, Prynce’s CyHi said he was “honored” by the “words he spoke to us,” according to the New York Post.
In 2018, Farrakhan’s presence at a funeral for music icon Aretha Franklin did not go unnoticed. He sat in the pulpit during the service, which was also attended by former President Bill Clinton, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, and performed by Faith Hill and Ariana Grande.
In addition, Farrakhan appeared on the Charlamagne Tha God radio show, “The Breakfast Club”. According to the Post, Farrakhan was happy to appear on the show because he believed it would help him reach a younger audience.
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In 2015, rapper The Game also met Farrakhan in honor of Million Man March’s 20th anniversary. According to BET, the game posted a photo on Instagram of its meeting with the minister, which has already been deleted.
“I spent the first part of my day with Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan getting some spiritual enlightenment, as well as preparing for our march in Washington, DC,” he would have written the caption for the photo. “On October 10, 2015 for the 20th anniversary of the Millionaire’s March … This time, we are going to #JusticeOrElse.”
The agency 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.
The Minister of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, speaks and talks about U.S. President Donald Trump at the Watergate Hotel on November 16, 2017 in Washington, DC.
(Mark Wilson / Getty Images)
On Friday, Green reportedly crashed his sedan on two policemen near the Capitol’s North Barricade, the entrance through which members of Congress and their advisers enter and exit.
The attack killed Capitol police officer William “Billy” Evans and injured another officer, who was hospitalized on Friday night in stable conditions.
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Sources told Fox News that it appeared to be a “lone wolf” attack and that the suspect identified himself on Facebook as a follower of the Nation of Islam who recently lost his job.
A Facebook profile that matches this description was removed by the social media giant, but Fox News analyzed a series of posts and images before that happened. The page included photos and videos of rallies from the Nation of Islam, and the biography identified Green as a “Farrakhan Follower”.
Michael Ruiz and Julius Young of Fox News contributed to this report.