Leonard apologizes for anti-Semitic slur while gaming
Heat center Meyers Leonard apologized after using an anti-Jewish slur while streaming his ‘Call of Duty’ gaming session on his Twitch channel.
The Miami Heat announced Tuesday night that center Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely after Leonard used an anti-Semitic slur while streaming a recent “Call of Duty” gaming session on Twitch.
On a video that surfaced on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, Leonard can be heard saying: “F---ing cowards, don’t f---ing snipe me you f---ing k--e b--ch.”
“The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech,” the Heat said in a statement issued Tuesday night. “The
words used by Meyers Leonard were wrong and we will not tolerate hateful language from anyone associated with our franchise. To hear it from a Miami Heat player is especially disappointing and hurtful to all those who work here, as well as the larger South
Florida, Miami Heat and NBA communities.”
Leonard issued an apology Tuesday for his comments, posting this statement on his Instagram account: “I am deeply sorry for using an anti
slur during a livestream yesterday. While I didn’t know what the word meant at the time, my ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely not an excuse and I was just wrong.
“I am now more aware of its meaning and I am committed to properly seeking out people who can help educate me about this type of hate and how we can fight it. I acknowledge and own my mistake and there’s no running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else. This is not a proper representation of who I am and I want to apologize to the Arisons, my teammates, coaches, front office, and everyone associated with the Miami Heat organization, to my family, to our loyal fans and to others in the Jewish community who I have hurt. I promise to do better and know that my future actions will be more powerful than my use of this word.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon: “We just became aware of the video and are in the process of gathering more information. The NBA unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech.”
The Heat said it “will cooperate with the NBA while it conducts its investigation.”
Call of Duty is a firstperson shooter war-simulation video game. And Twitch is a live streaming platform that Leonard has become a popular figure on in the world of video gaming.
The Anti-Defamation League posted its reaction on Twitter a few hours before Leonard apologized: “We are shocked and disappointed to see [Meyers Leonard] use this ugly, offensive #antisemitic slur. We have reached out to the [Miami Heat] and [NBA] about this and urge Mr. Leonard to issue an apology immediately for this egregious and hateful rhetoric.”
Jacob Solomon, presiSemitic dent and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said Tuesday that Leonard’s language “is just plain and simple unacceptable.”
“He has spoken about his feelings for the citizens of Miami and his desire to be a force for good here, but this behavior suggests otherwise,” Solomon said. “Hatred is hatred. Whether it’s aimed at African Americans or LGBTQ people, or Hispanics or in this case Jews, it’s vile and toxic and it does real damage.”
Solomon said “if Mr. Leonard cares enough about the damage he has done,” he would be willing to set up meetings with people “who could help him understand the history of anti-semitism and how this kind of language doesn’t just hurt Jews, but it hurts everyone in the community who is exposed to this kind of bigotry and intolerance.”
Leonard, who re-signed with the Heat on a twoyear deal, averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in just three games this season before a season-ending left shoulder injury.