"I ask that we stop these racist messages and accusations" — Wyclef Jean condemns Trump’s claims Haitian immigrants are eating pets

Haitian rapper, Wyclef Jean condemned former US president Donald Trump's baseless rhetoric that Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, were killing and eating pets. Trump, who is the Republican nominee, repeated the MAGA rumor during his presidential debate against US Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on September 10, 2024.

Wyclef Jean addressed these rumors in an interview with TMZ on September 12. The Haitian rapper said he spoke on behalf of the Haitian community living in the US.

“I will be forever grateful for my family’s life, for having a fair chance to live what is called the ‘American Dream.' One of our greatest assets in America is that we are a country of immigrants. I speak from the heart when I say, Haitian people living in the U.S. are good neighbors and good people. We care about humanity. We care about our neighbors,” he said.

He asked people to stop spreading "racist messages and accusations," and vote based on facts and policies.

“On behalf of Haitian Americans, I ask that we stop these racist messages and accusations. Put our hands out in peace and say thanks for being my neighbor. We need to respect one another and vote based on policies and facts, not crazy talk. And we need to shake hands with one another and be thankful we are part of an America for all.”

Wyclef Jean is famously known for appearing in Shakira's 2006 hit Hips Don't Lie. He was also the lead guitarist in Fugees, the New Jersey hip-hop trio consisting of him, Lauryn Hill, and Pras Michel. Jean emigrated to the US from Haiti when he was nine.

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What did Donald Trump say about Springfield in the presidential debate?

Wyclef Jean's remarks came after the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on September 10. The debate, telecast on ABC News, saw the two candidates discuss various issues like immigration, abortion and gun control.

During the debate, Trump brought up the MAGA rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield allegedly eating pets. The rumor saw the phrase "Cats for Trump" spike on social media, with AI-generated images of the former president protecting pets from immigrants.

"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats… They're eating... they're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame," Trump said in the debate.

His remarks, met with a disbelieving laugh from Harris, were fact-checked by moderator David Muir. He said the Springfield city manager said they had received no reports of pets being attacked by immigrants, to which Trump replied that he saw it on the news.

Following the debate, Trump's running mate JD Vance also backed these rumors, saying that the Haitian community in Ohio was allegedly causing issues for the residents. He also claimed that many of his constituents came forward with reports of animals missing, adding:

"The city manager said there's no verifiable evidence. A lot of residents on the ground have said there is. That just means the city manager, I think, isn't in touch with what's going on on the ground there."

Meanwhile, Bryan Heck, the Springfield city manager released a statement saying there were no credible reports of immigrants harming pets. This report was also corroborated by the Springfield police.

These rumors originated after a resident of Canton, Ohio was arrested on August 16 after she allegedly killed and ate a cat in front of multiple witnesses. However, the suspect, 27-year-old Allexis Ferrell, is an American born and raised in Ohio, not a Haitian immigrant.