The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has been removed Rolling stone magazine co-founder Jann Wenner from its board of directors.
The organization confirmed Wenner’s removal from the board in a statement to CNN on Sunday. The news comes later The New York Times published an interview Friday with Wenner, 77, in which he talks about his upcoming book, Masterswhich features interviews he’s conducted with various musicians over the years — all notably white — including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bono, Pete Townsend and Bruce Springsteen.
The longtime music journalist was asked why he didn’t include interviews with women or people of color, and his answer drew a lot of criticism. “People had to meet several criteria, but it was just my personal interest and love for them,” he replied. “As for the women, it’s just that none of them were articulate enough on this intellectual level.”
Wenner similarly dismissed black musicians, saying, “Of black artists — you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I guess when you use such a broad word like “masters” the error is in the use of the word. Maybe Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level.”
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Jann Wenner is facing criticism for his controversial comments about his upcoming book.
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Wenner told the paper that he intuitively chose the interviews he included in the book, acknowledging that he could face backlash for his choices.
“You know, just for public relations, maybe I should have gone and found one black artist and one female artist to include here that didn’t conform to that same historical standard, just to avoid this kind of criticism,” he said in an interview. “What, I see. I had a chance to do that.”
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Amid growing criticism of him The New York Times interview, Wenner issued a statement Saturday night through the book’s publisher, Little, Brown and Company, apologizing for his comments.
“Masters is a collection of interviews I’ve done over the years that I felt best represented the idea of rock ‘n’ roll’s influence on my world; were not intended to represent all of music and its diverse and important originators, but to reflect the highlights of my career and interviews that I felt illustrated the breadth and experience of that career,” he said in a statement, according to CNN.
“They do not reflect my gratitude and admiration for the countless totemic, world-changing artists whose music and ideas I respect and will celebrate and promote as long as I live. I fully understand the inflammatory nature of poorly chosen words and I deeply apologize and accept the consequences,” the statement read. .
PEOPLE has reached out to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for additional comment.
Wenner is a co-founder Rolling stone in 1967 and was editor of the magazine until 2019. He also co-founded the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1983.
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