The Brooklyn Nets released a statement saying Kyrie Irving will be suspended for five games without pay after receiving backlash for sharing an anti-Semitic film on social media and declined to apologize.
The statement reads, “Over the last several days, we have made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions, which began with him publicizing a film containing deeply disturbing antisemitic hate. We believed that taking the path of education in this challenging situation would be the right one and thought that we had made progress with our joint commitment to eradicating hate and intolerance.
We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify.
Breaking: The Nets have suspended Kyrie Irving without pay, the team announced.
The suspension will be for “no less than five games,” the team said. pic.twitter.com/qCpVIc1yZC
— ESPN (@espn) November 3, 2022
Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets. We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period served is no less than five games.”
As we previously reported, Kyrie Irving received backlash after he tweeted out a link to a documentary called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.” According to Rollingstone, the documentary puts forward “ideas in line with more extreme factions of the Black Hebrew Israelites, which have a long history of misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and especially antisemitism.”
RELATED:Kyrie Irving Slams Reporter Asking About Tweet Promoting ‘Anti-Semitic’ Documentary
The Brooklyn Nets point guard went on Twitter last Saturday to address the labels that’s being pushed on him after promoting the documentary. “I am an OMNIST and I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs. The “Anti-Semitic” label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in everyday. I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions. Hélà
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