Amy Schumer’s manager, Guy Oseary, took a moment out of celebrating America to defend his buddy, Jay-Z, on Instagram Saturday.

In the midst of his new album’s resounding critical success, Jay-Z has found himself at the center of accusations of anti-semitism for the lyrics “You wanna know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? Credit. You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America? This how they did it. Financial freedom my only hope. F*** livin’ rich and dryin’ broke.”

Oseary, who was born in Israel and is personally acquainted with the rapper, said he felt compelled to respond to multiple inquiries he received asking for his take on the lyrics.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“In my opinion, Jay-Z is giving the jewish community a compliment,” wrote Oseary in an Instagram post. “Giving ‘credit’ to a community that understands what it means to have ‘credit’ … I’m good with that.”

You can read the whole Instagram post below.

I’ve received a few messages from friends wondering why Jay-Z is putting out anti-semitic lyrics in his new song “The Story Of O.J.” … If you read the lyrics out of context I can understand why people are jumping to that conclusion.. But if you listen to the song in its entirety you will hear that the whole of the song is based on exaggerated stereotypes to make a point.. There are African American stereotypes throughout the song.. The music video directed by @markromanek and Jay is entirely full of exaggerated stereotype imagery of African Americans.. Jewish people do NOT “own all the property in America”. Jay knows this.. But hes attempting to use the jewish people in an exaggerated way to showcase a community of people that are thought to have made wise business decisions.. As an example of what is possible and achievable.. Yes, the “rich jew” the “business jew” the “jew that owns the world” is a stereotype which has been repeatedly used with the wrong sentiment.. meant only to harm the Jewish people. Perpetuating the absurdity that jews are taking over the world.. Fact: There are 7.5 billion people in the world.. Only 14 million of them are jews.. Thats 0.2 percent of the worlds population.. In my opinion, Jay is giving the jewish community a compliment.. ” Financial freedom” he mentions as being his ONLY hope.. If you had to pick a community as an example of making wise financial decisions achieving financial freedom who would you choose?.. Im not offended by these lyrics.. I hear them the way he inteded them to be heard.. Giving “credit” to a community that supposedly understands what it means to have “credit”.. I’m good with that.. ??✡️

A post shared by Guy Oseary (@guyoseary) on Jul 1, 2017 at 11:43am PDT

Becky Scott is the editor of The Schmooze. Follow her on Twitter at @arr_scott

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount