Kyrie Irving has been receiving a lot of pushback over the last few weeks for posting to a film with anti-Semitic messaging.
The Nets, Irving, the NBA, and the NBPA have been dealing with the fallout of Irving’s insensitive social media activity. Both the Nets and Irving pledged to donate 500,000 dollars to anti-hate organizations earlier this week in an effort to heal the damage that was done.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released his official statement in response to Irving on Thursday. Silver stated that while he appreciated Irving’s donation to the anti-hate organization, he was “disappointed” in Irving’s lack of apology and that he will be “meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.”
When pressed by reporters about his social media activity, Irving has had several conflicting statements and accounts on his intentions and on whatever power he believes he may hold. He has not backed down from much of the messaging of the movie. The Nets withheld Irving from media availability following his 4-point performance in Tuesday’s loss against the Chicago Bulls.
In response to more questioning about the antisemitic movie on Thursday, Irving said he takes “responsibility for posting that” and acknowledged that “some things were questionable in there in, untrue.” He reminded reporters that he doesn’t “believe everything that everybody posts” and that he “didn’t mean to cause any harm.”
When asked if he was anti-semitic, Irving said he “respects all walks of life” while adding that he believes he “cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from.”
I take my responsibility for posting that,” Irving said per SNYNets.” Some things that were questionable in there untrue. Like I said the first time you guys asked me when I was sitting on that stage, I don’t believe everything that everybody posts. It’s a documentary. I take my responsibility.
Irving will likely be facing a good deal of media scrutiny over the next few weeks of the season for his comments. It is unclear if further punishment will be dealt out against Irving by either the NBA or the Brooklyn Nets. The clear message from the NBA is that they do not condone any promotion of hate speech.
