Wiley: 'Godfather of grime' launches shocking anti-semitic Twitter rant

UK rapper Wiley has launched a long anti-semitic rant spread over a series of tweets, in which he called Jewish people "too touchy" and said that Israel "is not yours".

Among a barrage of posts repeatedly employing anti-semitic tropes, the self-styled Godfather of Grime tweeted that: "Some people have gotten too comfortable on lands that don’t belong to them" and "Is it anti semetic [sic] to say Jewish people have power ?"

He went on: "If you work for a company owned by 2 Jewish men and you challenge the Jewish community in anyway of course you will get fired.

"Infact there are 2 sets of people who nobody has really wanted to challenge #Jewish & #KKK but being in business for 20 years you start to undestand why."

The rapper added that "Israel is ours", appearing to reference the Black Hebrew Israelites, a group of black people who believe that they are the descendents of the biblical residents of Israel.

Despite widespread criticism of the seemingly unprompted outburst, Wiley was defiant, telling followers: "I am not embarrassing myself at all I am standing out."

He denied allegations of anti-semitism and added: "Forget anti Semitic racism is racism and ya can’t hide the fact that systemic racism exists and it wasn’t set up by us".

Wiley, whose real name is Richard Kylea Cowie, is reportedly managed by Richard Woolf, who is Jewish. Mr Woolf has been contacted for comment.

Daniel Sugarman, a public affairs officer for the Board of Deputies which advocates for British Jews, said Wiley's comments were "not great".

He added on Twitter: "I have to say, it is bleakly amusing to see the anti-Israel crowd cheering on Wiley, apparently oblivious to the fact that he doesn't think Israel should belong to the Palestinians either, but rather to the Black Hebrew Israelites."

The Board of Deputies has been contacted for further comment.