A photograph showing English national team and Manchester United soccer players Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard posing alongside disgraced antisemitic rapper Wiley in Dubai has surfaced, forcing the two players to issue clarifications.
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Twitter, Facebook and Instagram banned the rapper in 2020 and he was also dropped by his management company after he called Jews "cowards'' and "snakes,'' and urged "black people" to go to "war" with Jewish people.
The picture shared by Wiley shows Rashford and Lingard alongside him following a performance at a nightclub in Dubai. It was not confirmed when the picture was taken, the Britain-based Jewish Chronicle reported.
NEW: @MarcusRashford has commented on photos of him with rapper Wiley, saying: "A picture has been brought to my attention which I understand now, given context, could easily be misconstrued.... (1/2)https://t.co/Z3KNmIOMdc
— The Jewish Chronicle (@JewishChron) January 25, 2022
Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle, Rashford said: "A picture has been brought to my attention which I understand now, given context, could easily be misconstrued. I would like to reinforce that I do not and will not condone discriminative language or behavior of any kind aimed at the Jewish community or any other community.
"I truly believe that tackling antisemitism in and outside of the game requires a greater level of attention and should very much form part of the game's anti-racism stance," he said.
Rashford also said he "completely" condemned an antisemitic video tirade Wiley posted where the rapper said: "Why did Hitler hate you? For nothing?" after it was brought to his attention.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, Rashford later explained that he "wasn't aware of comments that had been made when I got pulled into a photo opportunity. Comments that I absolutely condemn. I apologize for any upset caused. We just all happened to be in the same place at the same time."
Lingard also condemned the photo saying: "I've been made aware of a photo circulating currently, that can easily be misconstrued. I want to make it clear that I do not condone any form of racism whatsoever!"
I've been made aware of a photo circulating currently, that can easily be misconstrued. I want to make it clear that I do not condone any form of racism whatsoever!
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) January 25, 2022
The 41-year-old artist, whose real name is Richard Cowie, is known as the "Godfather of Grime." He received an MBE award for services to music in 2018.
Wiley's A-List Management group had "cut all ties" with the musician following the posts on Twitter and Instagram.
Since his ban from the platform, Wiley has returned to Instagram under the username @Wileyrecordings.
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