CNN
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Kyrie Irving He will miss the first of several Brooklyn Nets games on Friday after being suspended for the comments Regarding his tweet linking to an anti-Semitic documentary.
The Nets suspended Irving on Thursday Initially doubled His decision to share content on his Twitter account. The NBA star point guard apologized hours later Verified Instagram accountIn which he said that he should take full responsibility for his actions.
“To all the Jewish families and communities who have been hurt and affected by my post, I am deeply sorry for the pain I have caused you and I apologize,” Irving wrote. “Instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish brothers and sisters who were affected by the hateful comments published in the documentary, I was initially emotional about being unfairly labeled as anti-Semitic.
“I have no intention of insulting any Jewish cultural history related to the Holocaust or perpetuating hatred. I hope that we learn from this unfortunate event and find understanding between all of us,” Irving continued.
The regression Last week he came under fire from Irving after he defended his decision to share a link to the 2018 film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.” The film, based on Ronald Dalton’s book of the same name, was blasted by civil rights groups for its anti-Semitic tone.
Reporters asked Irving on Thursday — before he apologized — whether he held anti-Semitic beliefs or whether he regretted it. At the time, he responded that he respected “all parties” and meant no harm.
Nets said later During a media session, they were “appalled” when the actor “refused to state unequivocally that he does not hold anti-Semitic beliefs, or acknowledge the specific hateful content in the film”.
“Given a clear opportunity, denying anti-Semitism is deeply troubling, contrary to our organization’s values, and harmful to the team,” the Nets said in their statement before Irving apologized.
The group also said it repeatedly tried to help Irving “understand the harm and danger of his words and actions.”
Irving’s suspension without pay means he will not play in Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards. The suspension will last at least four additional games, and the Nets said Irving must satisfy “a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct.”
Kevin Durant, Irving’s Nets teammate, described the incident this week as “unnecessary” and expressed his belief that the team could have been “quieter” about Irving’s comments.
“I’m not here to judge anyone or talk down to anyone … I don’t like anything that happened. I feel like it’s all unnecessary,” Durant said of Irving’s team-handed suspension Friday before the Nets’ game. . I don’t like any of it.”
Asked if he thought the suspension was unfair, he said, “I trust and believe in a company that does the right thing.”
Shortly after receiving his media, Durant Tweeted“I want to clarify the statements I made on the shooting, I see some people are confused.. I don’t condone hate speech or bigotry, I always spread love.
“Our sport brings people together and I want to make sure that’s at the forefront,” he added.
Irving’s comments during a media session with reporters on Thursday added to the controversy.
When asked if he was apologizing, he said, “I meant no harm. It wasn’t me who made the documentary.
Asked if he was surprised by the reaction, Irving said, “I take full responsibility, and I’ll say it again, maybe some unfortunate lie on my Instagram or Twitter.”
Asked if he held anti-Semitic beliefs, Irving replied: “I respect people from all walks of life. I embrace all sides. That’s where I sit.”
Pressed further to answer yes or no to the question of whether Irving had any antisemitic beliefs, he replied: “I can’t be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from.”
When Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt learned how the NBA star responded to that question, he pointed out that Irving “has a lot of work to do.”
“The answer to the question of whether you have any antisemitic beliefs is always an unequivocal ‘no’. We took @KyrieIrving at his word when he said he was in charge, but today he didn’t follow through on that promise,” Greenblatt wrote.
After Irving was suspended Thursday, the ADL declined to accept a $500,000 donation that Irving and the Nets previously announced. The ADL’s decision to reject the donation came before Irving issued an apology late Thursday.
The star’s comments also drew rebuke from NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who said he was “disappointed” in Irving.
“Kyrie Irving made the irresponsible decision to post a link to an image that contained deeply objectionable antisemitic material,” Silver said in a statement before Irving apologized.
Controversy comes as bigotry On the rise In the United States over the past few years. At least 2,717 antisemitic incidents were reported in the United States in 2021, up from 942 incidents in 2015. ATL.
Irving has been mired in controversy in recent years, which has affected his playing time. Last season, Irving Not playing Many of Brooklyn’s home games have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, preventing them from playing indoors due to the New York City workplace vaccination mandate. There was fate Then lifted And he returned to the Barclays Center in March.
