Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 07, 2021 in Latest York City.
Steven Ryan | Getty Images
After Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving promoted an antisemitic film and book on social media Thursday, his team and team-owner Joe Tsai issued statements Friday condemning his actions.
“I’m disenchanted that Kyrie appears to support a movie based on a book filled with anti-semitic disinformation,” Tsai wrote on Twitter. “I need to sit down down and be certain he understands that is hurtful to all of us, and as a person of religion, it’s unsuitable to advertise hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.”
Irving posted a tweet Thursday linking to an Amazon page for the movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” which is “full of antisemitic tropes,” in accordance with an earlier report from Rolling Stone. The movie was released in 2018 and relies on a 2015 book by the identical name.
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 team said within the statement. “We consider that in these situations, our first motion have to be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), who’ve been supportive during this time.”
In a tweet on Saturday, Irving said he “meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs.”
“The ‘Anti-Semitic’ label that’s being pushed on me just isn’t justified and doesn’t reflect the truth or truth I live in on a regular basis,” he wrote. “I embrace and wish to learn from all walks of life and religions.”
He has not removed his original tweet.
Irving’s post on Thursday follows a series of antisemitic comments made by Ye, the rapper formerly referred to as Kanye West, in recent weeks. Adidas, Gap, Foot Locker and other organizations have since cut ties with Ye and price him his billionaire status.
The Anti-Defamation League, StopAntisemistism and the International Legal Forum applauded the move by Adidas on Tuesday.
Irving was previously benched by the Nets in 2021 for refusing to get vaccinated against Covid-19. It’s unclear whether his social media post will impact his ability to play.
The Nets will play the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
