Kyrie Irving Suspended By the Brooklyn Nets for At Least Five Games Without Pay for ‘Failure to Disavow Antisemitism’

The Brooklyn Nets announced Thursday that the team is suspending Kyrie Irving, days after he tweeted a link to a documentary that has been criticized as antisemitic and refused to disavow antisemitism.

via CNN:

In a statement on Twitter, the team said they made repeated attempts to help Irving “understand the harm and danger of his words and actions, which began with him publicizing a film containing deeply disturbing antisemitic hate.”

Irving was condemned last week by, among others, Nets owner Joe Tsai and the NBA for tweeting a link to the 2018 movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” which is based on Ronald Dalton’s book of the same name and has been blasted as being antisemitic by civil rights groups.

The Nets said they were “dismayed” on Thursday when Irving “refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film,” during a media session.

“This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify,” the team said.

“Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets. We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period served is no less than five games.”

While meeting with media earlier Thursday, Irving was asked if he was apologizing when he said he didn’t mean to cause any offense after tweeting a link to the movie.

“I didn’t mean to cause any harm,” Irving replied. “I’m not the one that made the documentary.”

“I take my full responsibility, again I’ll repeat it, for posting something on my Instagram or Twitter that may have had some unfortunate falsehoods in it,” he said.

“I take my responsibility for posting that,” Irving continued. “Some things that were questionable in there, untrue.

“Like I said the first time you all asked me while I was sitting on that stage. I don’t believe everything that everybody posts. It’s a documentary. So, I take my responsibility.”

Asked if he had any antisemitic beliefs, Irving responded: “I respect all walks of life. I embrace all walks of life. That’s where I sit.”

When pressed to answer yes or no to the question, he replied: “I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from.”

Responding to that answer on Twitter, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League – a “nonprofit organization devoted to fighting antisemitism and all types of hate that undermine justice and fair treatment for every individual” – said Irving had “a lot of work to do.”

“The answer to the question ‘Do you have any antisemitic beliefs’ is always ‘NO’ without equivocation. We took @KyrieIrving at his word when he said he took responsibility, but today he did not make good on that promise,” Jonathan Greenblatt wrote on Thursday. “Kyrie clearly has a lot of work to do.”

That media appearance came after Irving and the Nets announced on Wednesday that they will both donate $500,000 towards anti-hate organizations after the point guard tweeted the documentary.

In an earlier joint statement between Irving, Nets and the Anti-Defamation League, the 30-year-old said he took “responsibility” for the “negative impact” his post had towards the Jewish community.

“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” Irving said.

“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.”

Earlier this week, NBA analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said he thought the league “dropped the ball” on Irving and that he believed the player should have been suspended.

On Tuesday, when asked why Irving had not been disciplined for his actions, Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters: “I think we are having these discussions behind the scenes.

“I honestly don’t want to really get into those right now. … Really just trying to weigh out exactly what the best course of action is here.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says he is “disappointed” with Irving after the guard did not offer an apology nor denounce the “harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize.” Silver will meet with Irving in the next week, the commissioner said in a statement Thursday.

“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material,” Silver said.

“While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and 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.”

Irving was not made available to the media on Monday or Tuesday following Nets games on those days.

The joint statement said the donations were made to “eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities.”

“This is an effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry,” the statement read.

Greenblatt, with the Anti-Defamation League, had said: “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.

“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.”

See the Nets’ statement in full below.

Statement from the Brooklyn Nets pic.twitter.com/699px8XYpx

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 4, 2022

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