Overview

• The Broadway revival of Cabaret opened on July 23 with Billy Porter cast as the Emcee in the first commercial production to feature African American actors in all three leading roles.
• Porter’s July 21 interview on CBS Mornings included the remark “Black people have replaced the Jews,” framing the musical as a commentary on modern racial injustice.
• TikTok influencer Ben Lebofsky criticized Porter’s phrasing for suggesting Jews no longer face discrimination but recognized that parallels can be drawn between anti-Black racism and antisemitism.
• The original Cabaret, set in 1930s Berlin, centers on Jewish characters confronting the rise of the Nazi party, a backdrop that amplifies sensitivities around Porter’s analogy.
• Audiences and cultural commentators continue to dissect the production’s blend of diverse casting and historical messaging in hopes of advancing conversations on racial and religious discrimination.