Kyrie Irving, the Nets and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have issued a joint statement (via Twitter) following Irving’s promotion of an antisemitic film last week.
According to the statement, Irving and the Nets will each donate $500K “toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities.” Irving and the Nets will work the ADL, a nonprofit organization devoted to fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate, in an “effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry.”
“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” said Irving. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.”
“There is no room for antisemitism, racism, false narratives or misguided attempts to create animosity and hate,” said Sam Zussman, Chief Executive Officer of BSE Global, parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. “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.”
“At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels, we know the best way to fight the oldest hatred is to both confront it head-on and also to change hearts and minds. With this partnership, ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “At the same time, we will maintain our vigilance and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes – whatever, whoever, or wherever the source – as we work toward a world without hate.”
As Fred Katz, Mike Vorkunov and Sam Amick of The Athletic observe (All Twitter links), while Irving claims to “take responsibility” for the “negative impact” of his Twitter post, which has since been deleted after a combative exchange with reporters over the weekend, it’s notable that he did not actually apologize to the Jewish community.
Both the NBA and NBPA previously issued fairly toothless statements condemning antisemitism in general terms without directly naming or rebuking Irving. General manager Sean Marks said the team wanted Irving to “simmer down” and not create more “fuss” as explanation for why Irving didn’t speak to the media on Monday or Tuesday, noting that Irving’s last media session “didn’t go well.”
Clown. Great player, complete clown of a person.
He should just start going by his true name: Cancer Irving. So glad he’s the Nyets problem. This clown is dumber then dumb.
Oddly enough, I believe Kyrie. He’s never struck me as the type to be hateful or vindictive, just stubborn and ignorant.
Kyrie definitely tries to do what he considers to be the right thing. He’s just a tad misguided at times.
You’re right. He’s crazy and stupid. A dangerous combination when it comes to spreading this garbage. My biggest surprise is the number of supporters he has
I’d be willing to bet it’s less than you think.
Finally! I know there are plenty of people looking for him to be punished and that many, myself included, would not mind if the Nets traded him, but I’d prefer if he actually learned from what he did and helped others understand it was wrong.
This is only words from him. His actions will show if he’s learned from this
Only sorry because he was forced to be or be out of a job. You can’t demand equality for your race while being a massive bigot yourself. (I mean you can….but it makes you look like a complete tool.)
How is Kyrie a bigot?
Promoting an antisemitic movie? Pretty much Bigotry 101
What part of the movie is antisemitic? I’m genuinely curious. I’ve heard it stated but haven’t seen a single shred of evidence that it is.
THE MOVIE SAYS ALL SLAVES OWNERS WERE JEWS AND THEY SHOULD BE WIPED FRO MTHE FACE OF THE EARTH!!!
Have you seen it for yourself? It features ignorance about genocide and the history of Jewish people in a way that extremists would be proud of
A non-apology. Gonna take a lot more than this to convince me he’s not an idiot or antisemitic.
That money will do a lot more for the good of society than an apology would.
Which misses the point. Saying he’s “aware of the negative impact” and “takes responsibility”?
Actually taking responsibility would include remorse and an apology, rather than the LIE that followed when he claimed the opposite, ” So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people”.
Kyrie should move to Uranus …..
Stopped caring when he acted up with Cavs.
Yawn
as a Jewish man.. Kyrie can shove that money up his bigoted ass…. bigotry has no place in the NBA, period. I am calling for his blackballing from all professional sports. If he was a white man doing this to black people.. there’s not a chance in hell he plays again. Bigotry against me isn’t “ok” if its not “ok” to any other race / gender / religion… period.
This flat earth believing idiot needs to stfu. His lawyers wrote his statement. He should speak and apologize personally, not through a tweet or a press release…. But he probably won’t because he’ll say something even dumber.
Not a fan of piling the someone who clearly has a mental disability. Leave Kyrie alone to seek help.
I’ll leave him alone when he stops putting my life in danger… deal? A person randomly started screaming at me in German tonight.. I translated a view of the words I could hear him say.. “die… dog… next time”….. think about that.. I’m just some random guy in Florida brother.
few of the words*
How are you qualified to diagnose a mental disability? Something tells me you’re not, and you’re just another idiot trying to excuse antisemitism.
as someone once said. Without a diagnosis you’re just an @sshole
People with very big egos are much more likely to be bigots. But I suppose someone will try to give us a laugh and say there’s no indication Irving has an unusually big ego.
Its not the same. I will never promote the holocaust because thats is one of the worst cruelty in history, but I can like a book of the holocaust because although I dont like the event it makes me aware of it.
So I guess he is “standing down” on his beliefs. Boy his army of idiots will be disappointed.
Sources say that Kyrie wasn’t even at the ADL meeting with the nets… he sent a proxy. HIS STATEMENT IS EMPTY! Kyrie is the worst. ADL said they haven’t even talked to him directly!
“At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels…”
Wow, somebody doesn’t have a firm grasp of history…