Kyrie Irving refuses to directly answer question about his beliefs on Jewish people
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has condemned Kyrie Irving for what he says is a lack of contrition after the Brooklyn Nets guard appeared to promote a documentary that contains antisemitic tropes. The player later would not directly say whether he holds antisemitic beliefs.
Irving had drawn criticism around the NBA including from Nets owner Joe Tsai and Hall of Famers Charles Berkley and Shaquille O’Neal for posting a link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America on his Twitter feed last week. The documentary is based on a book that claims, “that many highranking Jews have reported to worshiping Satan and Lucifer,” according to Rolling Stone. The film’s director is a holocaust denier and provides a fabricated quote from Adolf Hitler in the film to promote an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Irving said on Wednesday that he opposes all forms of hate, and he and the Brooklyn Nets will each donate $500,000 toward groups that work to eradicate it.
Those steps do not appear to be enough for Silver.
“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material,” said Silver in a statement released on Thursday.
“While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Anti-Defamation
League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize. I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss the situation.”
Speaking to reporters shortly after the release of Silver’s statement, Irving did not respond directly to a question about whether he has antisemitic beliefs.
“Again, I’m going to repeat. I don’t know how the label becomes justified because you guys ask me the same questions over and over again,” Irving said. “But this is not going to turn into a spin-around cycle – questions upon questions. I told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That’s where I sit ... I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from.”
Irving did say he does not believe everything discussed in Hebrews to Negroes.
“I take my responsibility for posting that,” Irving said. “Some things that were questionable in there, untrue. Like I said in the first time you guys asked
me when I was sitting on that stage, I don’t believe everything that everybody posts – it’s a documentary. So I take my responsibility.”
Irving hadn’t spoken since Saturday, when he defended his right to post about material he believes. At Monday’s home Nets game fans wearing “Fight Antisemitism” shirts sat courtside.
“There is no room for antisemitism, racism, false narratives or misguided attempts to create animosity and hate,” said Sam Zussman, the CEO of BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets. “Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to ensure education in these areas. We are putting our prior statements into practice because actions speak louder than words.”
Irving has not been fined or suspended by the league for his comments. Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Anthony Edwards was fined $40,000 by the NBA last month for homophobic comments he made on social media.