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26 Jan 2026 22:11
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Nick Cannon has claimed his great-grandfather was a Spanish rabbi

    The 39-year-old star - who was fired by ViacomCBS last month after making anti-Semitic comments on his 'Cannon Class' podcast - has claimed that he only found out about his roots after the recent controversy


    Speaking to Rabbi Noam Marans on American Jewish Committee's 'AJC Advocacy Anywhere' show, he said: "My mother has been calling me every single day since this happened with so much family history. My great-grandfather was a Spanish rabbi. He's a Sephardic Jewish man.

    "So, as much heat as I've been catching from the public and the outside, this hit home for my family in a real way because I come from a Black and Jewish family on my mother's side."

    Nick later issued an apology and insisted he never meant to spread "hate and propaganda" against Jewish people.

    And during his appearance on 'AJC Advocacy Anywhere', he insisted he wanted to move ahead with "truth and reconciliation".

    Nick said: "A lot of people may have been upset that I apologised, but I feel like that's what someone of true character is actually supposed to do when they hurt someone.

    "Now, let's get through this process of truth and reconciliation."

    Last month, in a lengthy apology on social media, Nick said: "First and foremost I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth.

    "They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naive place that these words came from.

    "I am committed to deeper connections, more profound learning and strengthening the bond between our two cultures today and every day going forward."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Law and Order:
     21:57

    Entertainment:
    A guest at Brooklyn Beckham's wedding to Nicola Peltz has backed up his claim that his mother Victoria Beckham danced "very inappropriately" with him at the reception party 21:31

    Soccer:
    Wellington Phoenix women's captain CJ Bott is hopeful she'll be back next A-League season after announcing her pregnancy 21:17

    Entertainment:
    The Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno was banned from speaking in the 1970s series because he had a New York accent 21:01

    Entertainment:
    Michael Fassbender is fronting Acqua di Parma's 110th anniversary campaign 20:31

    Entertainment:
    David Beckham has broken his silence following his son Brooklyn's astonishing Instagram rant 20:01

    Entertainment:
    Anne-Marie thinks she was a "psycho girlfriend" in her previous relationships 19:31

    International:
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    Entertainment:
    Gwyneth Paltrow has described Valentino Garavani's death as "the end of an era" 19:01

    Accident and Emergency:
    Emergency services are cleaning up human waste spilled out of a rolled truckload of portaloos on State Highway 1, north of Timaru - but it's not as bad as first announced 18:57


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