John Wenner removed from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for controversial comments

(CNN) – John Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, removed from the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation New York Times interview Published in Female and Black Music. (Read the full interview here)

“Jon Wenner has been removed from the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation,” a representative for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation told CNN on Sunday.

Wenner spoke to The New York Times about his upcoming book, “The Masters,” which includes interviews he conducted with John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger and other artists during his time at the helm of Rolling Stone.

In her conversation with the NYT, she discussed her decision not to include interviews with black women and artists, and her comments on the topic were widely criticized.

“People had to meet two criteria, but it was my personal interest and my love for them,” he added: “As for the women, none of them expressed themselves sufficiently at this intellectual level.”

He continued: “Stevie Wonder was a genius, right? When you use the broad term ‘authors,’ I think it’s a mistake to use that term. Maybe Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they don’t express. They get to that point.”

“For public relations, I should have chosen a black artist and a woman, even if they didn’t live up to the same historical standard, to avoid this kind of criticism. I understand that. The opportunity to do that “Maybe I’m old-fashioned, or I’m not telling what I know. In retrospect, I wish I had interviewed Marvin Gaye. I probably would have chosen him. Perhaps Otis Redding, had he lived, would have been together.”

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Wenner issued a statement Saturday through Little, Brown and Company, the publisher of The Masters: “In my interview with The New York Times, I made comments that diminished the contributions, genius, and impact of black and white artists. The girls and I sincerely apologize for those comments.

“‘The Masters’ is a compilation of interviews I’ve done over the years that I feel best represent a sense of rock ‘n’ roll’s influence on my world; they’re not meant to represent all music and its diverse and important creators, but rather to illustrate the highlights of my career and the breadth and experience of that life.” The interviews must reflect what they felt. They do not reflect my appreciation and admiration for countless totemic, world-changing artists whose music and ideas I respect and will celebrate and encourage as long as I live. “I fully understand the hurtfulness of poorly chosen words and I deeply apologize and accept the consequences.”

CNN has reached out to Little, Brown and Company for comment.

Wenner wrote in 1967 that music critic Ralph J. He co-founded Rolling Stone magazine with Gleason and launched the legendary rock magazine in 2017. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 as an individual and is a co-founder of Rock & Roll. Hall of Fame Foundation.

The book “The Masters” is scheduled to be released on September 26.

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