In a recent New York Times interview promoting his book The Masters, rolling stone co-founder Jann Wenner said problematic things about black and female artists. One quote, for example, says, “As far as women were concerned, none of them were quite as articulate on that intellectual level,” after saying that in regard to the white male artists he included in his book.
Now Wenner, who was not directly involved in rolling stone for a few years now, has apologized, saying in a statement (as The Hollywood Reporter Remarks):
“In my interview with The New York Times, I made comments that diminished the contributions, genius and impact of Black and women artists and I wholeheartedly apologize for those remarks. The Masters is a collection of interviews I’ve done over the years that I feel best represent a sense of the impact rock’n’roll has had on my world; they were not meant to represent the whole of music and its diverse and important creators, but to reflect the highlights of my career and the interviews that I felt illustrated the breadth and experience of that career. They do not reflect my appreciation and admiration for a myriad of totemic, world-changing artists, whose music and ideas I revere and whom I will celebrate and promote for as long as I live. I fully understand the inflammatory nature of the poorly chosen words, I deeply apologize and accept the consequences.
rolling stone recently distanced himself from Wenner comments, saying in a statement“Jann Wenner’s recent statements to The New York Times do not represent today’s values and practices rolling stone. Jann Wenner has not been directly involved in our operations since 2019. Our goal, especially since his departure, has been to tell stories that reflect the diversity of voices and experiences that shape our world. HAS rolling stoneThe heart of music is the understanding that music can, above all, bring us together, not divide us.