Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball towards the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 07, 2021 in New York City.
Steven Ryan | Getty Images
After Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving promoted an antisemitic movie and e-book on social media Thursday, his crew and team-owner Joe Tsai issued statements Friday condemning his actions.
“I’m disillusioned that Kyrie seems to assist a movie primarily based on a e-book stuffed with anti-semitic disinformation,” Tsai wrote on Twitter. “I wish to sit down and ensure he understands that is hurtful to all of us, and as a person of religion, it’s fallacious to advertise hate primarily based on race, ethnicity or faith.”
Irving posted a tweet Thursday linking to an Amazon web page for the film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” which is “filled with antisemitic tropes,” in keeping with an earlier report from Rolling Stone. The film was launched in 2018 and is predicated on a 2015 e-book by the identical identify.
The Nets condemned Irving’s actions in an announcement Friday.
“The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and haven’t any tolerance for the promotion of any type of hate speech,” the crew stated within the assertion. “We imagine that in these conditions, our first motion have to be open, trustworthy dialogue. We thank these, together with the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), who’ve been supportive throughout this time.”
In a tweet on Saturday, Irving stated he “meant no disrespect to anybody’s non secular beliefs.”
“The ‘Anti-Semitic’ label that’s being pushed on me is just not justified and doesn’t mirror the fact or reality I dwell in on a regular basis,” he wrote. “I embrace and wish to be taught from all walks of life and religions.”
He has not eliminated his unique tweet.
Irving’s put up on Thursday follows a collection of antisemitic feedback made by Ye, the rapper previously generally known as Kanye West, in current weeks. Adidas, Gap, Foot Locker and different organizations have since reduce ties with Ye and value him his billionaire standing.
The Anti-Defamation League, CeaseAntisemistism and the International Legal Forum applauded the transfer by Adidas on Tuesday.
Irving was beforehand benched by the Nets in 2021 for refusing to get vaccinated towards Covid-19. It is unclear whether or not his social media put up will influence his skill to play.
The Nets will play the Indiana Pacers on Saturday evening.