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“I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize,” Irving wrote. “I initially reacted out of emotion to being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were hurt from the hateful remarks made in the documentary.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the Radical Hebrew Israelites “perpetuate theantisemitic beliefthat ‘so-called’ Jews have stolen their identity and ‘birthright,’ " while the Anti-Defamation League notes that the movement includes organizations that “operate semi-independently,” and not all are antisemitic.
AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh
Irving has previously joined the Nets organization in pledging $1 million total to organizations in an effort to “eradicate hate and intolerance.”
On Thursday, though, the Nets announced that Kyrie will be suspended at least five games without pay, after the team claims it made multiple attempts over the week to help the point guard “understand the harm and danger of his words and actions.”
The organization shared that Kyrie “refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs” during a Thursday media call, and because of that, felt he was “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,“the Nets wrote.
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The backlash from Irving’s tweet also saw NBA legends and fans alike expressing their disapproval, with some wearing “fight antisemitism” shirtsas they sat courtsideat a Nets game on Monday night.
Irving has since deleted his tweet.
Charles Barkleysaid on onInside the NBAthat he thought Irving “should have been suspended.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silverannounced Thursday that he will be meeting with Irving later this week.
“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.”
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source: people.com
