Repentance for a star leader? Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving said on Saturday he wanted to apologize for promoting the film with anti-Semitic ideas on social media, saying, “I’m not an anti-Semite.” In an exclusive interview with SportsNet New York (SNY) released Saturday, Irving made the first direct comment on the matter.
On October 27, Irving, already known for spreading conspiracy theories, posted on his Instagram and Twitter accounts a poster for “From Jews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” and links to an Amazon website allowing you to rent or buy the film, which contains, among other things, a quote attributed to Adolf Hitler and denying the reality of the Holocaust.
“I really just want to focus on the harm I caused or the impact I had on the Jewish community by posting some kind of threat or perceived threat against the Jewish community,” he explained. “I just want to sincerely apologize for everything I’ve done since posting this post,” he said, adding that he’s had time to think.
Suspended by his team and sponsor
The former Cleveland player was sanctioned by the Nets, who suspended him for at least five games without receiving a paycheck and eventually apologized after finally being eight games down. Equipment supplier Nike has also suspended its relationship with the NBA star, canceling a November launch on his behalf.
The player explained that he felt disrespected in the face of accusations of anti-Semitism and that he then reacted defensively. “I know that I could handle all this much better,” he admitted in this interview. “I had to answer questions and move on,” he explained.
“I am not an anti-Semite and never have been,” he repeated. “There is no hatred in my heart for Jews or anyone who identifies as a Jew. I am not against the Jews,” he added.
The Nets asked the player to get in touch with the Jewish community to better understand the scope of the messages he posted on social media. Irving called these discussions touching and important, saying he learned a lot.
“It wasn’t easy, some (discussions) were painful (…), but it gave me a clearer idea,” the player explained.
Source: Le Parisien
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.
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