The episode where Klein made these comments was posted on Apple podcasts on October 18, though it was recorded on October 17. The YouTube link to this episode appears to have been removed from the platform.

During the show, Klein and his podcast producer Dan Swerdlove reflected on Kanye West’s latest controversy, where he made antisemitic comments on social media and in interviews.

West was locked out of his Instagram and Twitter accounts for several antisemitic comments, including a tweet in which he stated he was “going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” most likely in reference to DEFCON, which refers to one of five levels of U.S. defense readiness in the face of a national security threat.

During the podcast Klein and Swerdlove also discussed where West could be getting fed his sentiments and suggested conservative commentator Candace Owens and the Daily Wire website, as both Owens and Shapiro work there.

Klein also prefaced his comments by saying he was about to make a bad joke.

“I was just going to say, if there was another holocaust… I was just going to say again if they start rounding up the Jews, I hope Ben gets gassed first or last.”

After receiving no reaction from his producer, Klein added “I’m not doing anything, I’m getting gassed too Dan.”

He added: “I am Jewish by the way, just for the record, 99.7 percent Ashkenazi Jew b*tch.

“Nobody can even step to me, I am the king of the Jews,” Klein joked.

Klein’s comments from the podcast has begun circulating on social media, and has gone viral after being posted by fellow YouTuber KeemStar.

Shapiro saw the comments made by Klein and even shared the clip as he offered his response on Twitter.

“If there were another Holocaust, I would hope that Ethan and his family escaped. But maybe that’s just me.”

Shapiro also shared a tweet from Klein in 2021 where he explained his thoughts on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

Shapiro tweeted:” Soft-pedaling genocidal terror group Hamas and lying about the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) while chortling over which Jews go first in the next Holocaust is also an interesting look."

Following this, Klein apologized to his fans that their show would be off for a week following the backlash, but not for the comments themselves.

“I do want to apologize to our fans. I hate that we’ll miss a week of the show because of another stupid joke,” he tweeted on Thursday.

“Obv Ben Shapiro and friends can go f*ck themselves but I’m very sorry to everyone who relies on the podcast to get them through the week. I’ll do better for you guys I promise.”

Newsweek has reached out to YouTube, Ben Shapiro and Ethan Klein for comment.