Jann Wenner is the co-founder of the popular music magazine ‘‘Rolling Stone’’ (along with Ralph Gleason), founded in 1967, and was the former owner of the ‘‘Men’s Magazine’’ journal. He worked with notable writers like Hunter S. Thompson and Cameron Crowe who covered general media and the music scene as punk rock, hard rock, hip-hop, and other such mainstream music forms would emerge. Interviews with rockstars, politicians, actors, celebrities, and other such figures are also mainstays of the publisher, with Wenner conducting many of the most notable interviews. Yet, recently, his status in the ‘‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’’ was revoked and he was condemned in popular media. What happened? For a man who’s conducted interviews with Obama, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, and other famous figures, what could have gone wrong?

The answer to that is a lot. Recently, Jann Wenner published a book of interviews with several major figures (which include Bruce Springsteen, Bono, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Pete Townshend, and Mick Jagger) entitled ‘‘The Masters’’ and has gone on to have an interview with a New York Times writer with the focus of the book in mind. A remark is made by the interviewer, as they claim that the introduction of the book claims that artists of color or female artists were simply not in Wenner’s ‘‘Zeitgeist’’. Defending his statement, Wenner claims that he was simply referring to the artists of color and not the female artists and that the female artists were ‘‘not articulate enough on an intellectual level’’. He goes on to claim how artists like Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Joni Mitchell, and other female/POCs could not ‘‘articulate at that level’’.

This is utter blasphemy in the eyes of the common music listener. With Marvin Gaye creating one of the most fluent protest albums of all time (‘‘What’s Going On’’ to be specific), Stevie Wonder introducing introspective masterpieces in the world of soul/funk (like ‘‘Songs in the Key of Life’’), Joni Mitchell driving the folk-rock genre alongside Bob Dylan (with the masterpiece ‘‘Blue’’ under her belt), Patti Smith being completely disregarded while being the creator of one of the most important rock albums of all time (‘‘Horses’’), and so many other artists who may be POCs or women that were simply ignored and considered ‘‘not articulate enough’’ is insane. To say that as an ignorant individual blind to the world of music’s deep intricacies is one thing, but to say such a statement while being the co-founder of one of the most influential and significant music journals in American history and say such a statement is grounds for denunciation.

Understandably so, after such statements were said, his Rock and Roll HOF status was quickly removed and was under fire by many writers and music lovers alike. To defend the history of the times and your generation despite all the wrong that has been done is a commendable feat, yet it’s far from the smartest thing to do considering you emphasize one group of people and ignore the rest of the genius in the country because of their ‘‘lack of articulation’’ as a music journalist. Should Wenner be crucified for this statement and never be given the light of day again? No, he has far too much history and knowledge for that. Should he be taken seriously after such a statement? That is for you to decide, but I know my answer.