Google reassigns diversity head following antisemitic blog post

Google has reassigned an employee who formerly led its diversity efforts following revelations that he had previously authored a blog post that contained antisemitic statements. 

On Tuesday, the Washington Free Beacon reported that Kamau Bobb, who served as Google’s head of diversity strategy, wrote in a 2007 blog post that Jews have an “insatiable appetite for war” and an “insensitivity to the suffering [of] others.”

The post, titled “If I Were a Jew,” relayed Bobb’s thoughts on how Jewish people should view tensions between Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. 

“If I were a Jew I would be concerned about my insatiable appetite for war and killing in defense of myself,” Bobb wrote. “Self defense is undoubtedly an instinct, but I would be afraid of my increasing insensitivity to the suffering [of] others.”

On Thursday, a Google spokesperson told CNBC that Bobb had apologized for the post, which has since been deleted, and he will no longer be a part of Google’s diversity team. 

“We unequivocally condemn the past writings by a member of our diversity team that are causing deep offense and pain to members of our Jewish community and our LGBTQ+ community,” the company said.

“This has come at a time where we’ve seen an alarming increase in antisemitic attacks,” the spokesperson added. “Antisemitism is a vile prejudice that has given rise to unfathomable acts. It has no place in society and we stand with our Jewish community in condemning it.”

Google has taken criticism in recent months from its own employees over its diversity practices and hiring procedures. 

Last month, a group of Jewish Google employees called on CEO Sundar Pichai to voice support for Palestinians in response to recent bombing attacks by Israel in Gaza.