I’m not anti-Semitic – Irving

NEW YORK: Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving said Saturday (Sunday in Manila) he wants to “apologize deeply” for social media links to a film with anti-Semitic ideas, the NBA guard declaring, “I’m not anti-Semitic.”

In an exclusive interview with SportsNet New York (SNY) released Saturday, Irving made his most direct public comments regarding the posts he made linking to the 2018 film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” and the uproar they caused.

“I just really want to focus on the hurt that I caused or the impact that I made within the Jewish community, putting some type of threat, or assumed threat, on the Jewish community,” Irving told SNY.

“I just want to apologize deeply for all my actions for the time that it has been since the post was first put up.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think, but my focus initially, if I could do it over, would be to heal and repair a lot of my close relationships with my Jewish relatives, brothers and sisters.”

His lack of an apology earlier this month when speaking with reporters prompted the Nets to impose a minimum five-game suspension upon Irving until he took several steps to apologize and make amends for the harmful impact of his actions — a ban that has lasted for eight games.

Apparel giant Nike also “suspended” its relationship with the NBA star, cancelling the release of the Kyrie 8 shoe expected in November.

Irving said he felt disrespected in the moment by even the question he might be anti-Semitic and reacted defensively.

“I know I could have handled that better,” Irving said. “I did not mean to send any hurt or threats or impact or harm to the Jewish community.

“I should have just answered the questions and just moved on.

“To the outside world, it may have been seen as a simple yes or no, which rightfully so it should have been, no I’m not anti-Semitic.”