POP/ROCK - June 29, 1989

The black rap group Public Enemy has disbanded after anti-Semitic statements by one of its entourage provoked accusations of racism. In a recent interview with the Washington Times, the band’s “Minister of Information” who calls himself Professor Griff declared that Jews were responsible for “the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe,” that Jews “have a grip on America” and had “a history of killing black men.” The group fired Griff last week and subsequently apologized. But late Tuesday, Russell Simmons, president of Def Jam, the group’s record label, said in a statement that “Public Enemy is disbanding for an indefinite period of time. We fully denounce any and all anti-Semitic statements by Professor Griff.”