Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy sent an internal company memo Wednesday about the controversial Kanye West commercial that aired in several markets during the Super Bowl.
West (also known as “Ye”), produced the ad for his Yeezy clothing line. The commercial directed viewers to the Yeezy.com website, where they were greeted by a single image of a white T-shirt bearing a swastika. Ye had spent recent days making anti-Semitic social media posts and posting comments such as “I love Hitler.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, the commercials aired in only four markets nationwide, on Fox-owned stations in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Atlanta, and the St. Louis Fox affiliate, which is owned by Nexstar Media Group.
Abernethy addressed the issue with employees Wednesday. According to The Washington Post’s Jeremy Barr, Abernethy wrote, “We regret that these commercials aired in these three markets, and we strongly condemn any form of antisemitism.” Abernethy also said the ad had been switched.
Scoop: Fox TV Stations executive Jack Abernethy just sent a memo to employees about the Kanye West ad controversy.
“We regret that these commercials aired in these three markets, and we strongly condemn any form of antisemitism,” he wrote.
Abernathy said the ad was “switched”
— Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) February 12, 2025
The agency that placed the ad, USIM, submitted the spot to stations last week. The agency reported it had vetted the ad, and according to WSJ, Fox and Nexstar executives also vetted the ad and checked the website.
Kanye West Super Bowl 59 commercial (2025) pic.twitter.com/nTyeS9Ozhg
— curating our culture (@curatingourcult) February 10, 2025
However, Ye or his employees would be able to switch out the featured products on the website at a moment’s notice. Shopify, which hosts millions of online stores, removed Yeezy.com Tuesday.
“This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms so we removed them from Shopify,” the company said in a statement (via WSJ).
An NFL spokesperson said Tuesday officials had “no awareness of the ad buy or the spot until after it ran” and “strongly condemns any form of antisemitism.”
The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement addressing the commercial and requesting Fox Sports condemn the incident.
“We refuse to let hate win. Bigotry has consequences,” the statement read. “Join ADL in demanding that Fox Sports condemn this ad and never give hate a platform again.”
