Brian Roberts' Jewish Roots and Outsized Ambition Drive Comcast's Rise in Media
forward.com
A huge merger may turn the son of a Philadelphia Jewish entrepreneur into one of the most powerful Americans in the media industry. Brian Roberts, 54,

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/68500164

Taylor Swift is signed to Republic Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Universal Music Group is owned by Comcast, which is controlled by Brian L. Roberts. Roberts has a documented affinity for Israel. He has competed in the Maccabiah Games in Israel multiple times, winning gold and silver medals. He has donated to sports facilities in Israel. Roberts and Comcast President Mike Cavanagh issued a joint internal memo condemning the attack on Israel and calling it terrorism. Under their leadership, Comcast pledged $2 million toward humanitarian relief in the region, including funding for American Friends of Magen David Adom. Comcast also intervened in MSNBC’s coverage to stop criticism of Israel after October 7, 2023. The post calls for a boycott of Taylor Swift, Republic Records, and Comcast. It references a similar campaign against Ed Sheeran. The post includes links to sources documenting Roberts’s ties to Israel, Comcast’s censorship of MSNBC, and a song in aid of Palestine. The original Reddit post is from r/Palestine.

It is true that, to my knowledge, it is unknown whether Taylor Swift supports Palestine or not; however, she has been seen at fundraisers in support for Palestine. Regardless, her record label supports Israel, and it’s CEO has ties there as well (as I hope you have read); therefore, any Taylor Swift merchandise, CD, spotify play, etc., is financial support for Israels genocide on Palestinian people. Not to mention her silence on the subject despite her international audience.

  • CerebralHawks@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    4·
    7 days ago

    If a person actually did something heinous, I will stop listening to them, watching them, consuming media, etc. Like I don’t think anybody supported Lostprophets after their singer was convicted of messing with infants (literally, that happened, he was jailed and then killed in jail over it; the band broke up shortly after the conviction and now almost nobody listens to them anymore even though Rooftops was a certifiable banger).

    But somebody being on a record label whose CEO has done bad things? You already bought the CD, go ahead and keep listening to it. Up to you if you want to keep streaming it or not. But didn’t Taylor Swift already go through some shit where she didn’t own her music, she had to make “Taylor’s versions” of her old stuff, then she won the rights to her old material, and now “it’s all Taylor’s versions” and that’s what the song Father Figure is about? So, why is this an issue if she owns the rights now?

    I keep posting in here, people are gonna stop believing me when I say I’m not a Swiftie. Well, I don’t identify as one. I like a lot of different music. Pop has always been a big part of my musical culture and probably always will be, but rock music is my true love in music. Anyway, I personally think she deserves the benefit of the doubt here. You could draw similarities between this and the Ed Sheeran situation, but I don’t think it’s quite comparable. I’m not saying she’s a saint — far from it! — but I think linking her with the genocide is a heck of a stretch.

    At the end of the day, you gotta do what’s right for you though. Give people the information, but if at the end of their day, people still wanna listen to the music that takes them out of the bullshit going on all around them… that’s their choice.

    • snoons@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      2·
      8 days ago

      I believe that is quoting the OOP on reddit. The italic paragraph is my own writing.

    • snoons@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      21·
      8 days ago

      I’m not talking about Jews, I’m talking about Zionists. Judaism is not Zionism. Though it does make things complicated when Zionist of course call themselves Jews (and then get chased out of Hasidic neighbourhoods).

      “Cohen is a board member of the Philadelphia Jewish federation [and Comcast] and a donor to many local and national Jewish causes.”

      Philadelphia Jewish federation

      https://go.jewishphilly.org/philly-stands-with-israel

      Brian Roberts, the CEO seems to be at least neutral about genocide.

      And well, that’s all I’ll say because this is the Taylor Swift comm.