Rolling Stone magazine founder Jan Weiner acknowledged that her comments in a recent New York Times interview “undermined the contributions, talent and influence of black and female artists.”
After the New York Times interview went viral, Weiner was removed from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation’s board of directors. Late Saturday, Weiner released a statement shared with The Times on Monday about the response.
“I sincerely apologize for that comment,” he said through his publisher, Little, Brown & Company.
Weiner continued to defend “The Masters” as a series of interviews that “seemed to me to best represent an idea of the influence of rock and roll on my world,” and not “the whole music.” He added that his book does not reflect his “gratitude and admiration” for other artists.
He continued: “I fully understand the inflammatory nature of those poorly chosen words and deeply apologize and accept the consequences.”
Published Friday, the New York Times interview featured Weiner promoting his upcoming book, “The Masters.” The book is a collection of interviews with top rock stars of the 60s, 70s, and 80s that includes only white men, such as Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Bono, and Bruce Springsteen.
New York Times reporter David Marches asked Weiner about the lack of women and black artists featured in her book.
“The selection was not a deliberate selection,” Wenner replied. “It was kind of intuitive over the years; It just falls together that way. People had to meet a few criteria, but it was just my personal interest and love for them.”
Asked about leaving music greats like Madonna and Joni Mitchell, he claimed “none of them were articulate enough on this intellectual level.”
He added: “The people I interviewed were philosophers in stone.”
Regarding black trailblazers like Stevie Wonder, Weiner said, “They just didn’t articulate at that level.” His comments were quickly accepted negative feedback on social media.
Weiner is a co-founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The company severed ties with Weiner, but did not elaborate on the reason for his departure.
Times staff writer Meredith Blake contributed to this report.