Radio host Howard Stern said that he called his longtime friend Nick Cannon in the wake of his antisemitism scandal, but the TV host and actor never got back to him. 

“I tried to call Nick. I wanted to see how he was doing,” Stern told listeners of his SiriusXM radio show Tuesday morning. “You know, I worked with Nick for four years on ‘America’s Got Talent.’ Love the guy. Sweetest guy in the world.” Stern said Cannon didn’t answer or return his call. “I know he’s suffering, and I do like the guy.” 

But Stern suggested that Cannon had grasped onto the hateful teachings of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam because they provide “a support system” for some people who are searching for stability.

Stern and Cannon have had a close relationship since appearing together on “American’s Got Talent” beginning in 2012. Cannon has been a regular guest on Stern’s long-running radio show in the years since. Tuesday’s show was the first time Stern, who is Jewish, publicly addressed the antisemitism controversy that led to the cancellation of Cannon’s MTV show and the delay of his scheduled new talk show. 

The popular radio host said he watched the full 90-minute video of Cannon speaking to Richard Griffin, aka Professor Griff — which Cannon has since removed from YouTube — and was largely left confused. 

“I couldn’t follow what anyone was saying honestly,” Stern said. “I don’t even know if anything antisemitic was said — I don’t think anything was said!” 

Stern addressed the accusation in the video that the Jews control the record business. “I’ll let you in on a secret — I’ll tell you who runs the record business if you want to know. It’s people. People run the record business.” Stern said there are both Jewish and Black people who own record companies. “If you’re being screwed by people in the record business, as Professor Griff was saying, it’s people who are screwing you… it’s not some grand conspiracy. It’s just not.” 

The radio host said he wishes Cannon only the best. “I don’t see Nick as a hateful guy. I honestly don’t. I really truly don’t. I think he’s trying to find out some answers. I think he’s trying to figure it out. I think he’s also trying to figure out where he fits in.”