PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 01: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on February 01, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai condemned Nets star Kyrie Irving’s endorsement of an anti-Semitic film and called him out for promoting “hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.”
Kyrie Irving has found himself in the headlines yet again, but this time it is for all the wrong reasons. The Brooklyn Nets superstar found himself in the news for the wrong reasons after he endorsed a film that promotes anti-Semitic sentiments on his social media accounts–and the Brooklyn Nets owner had to come out with a statement to heavily condemn Irving’s actions.
“I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-Semitic disinformation,” Tsai tweeted on his official Twitter account. The Brooklyn Nets owner added: “I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.”
“The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech,” the team said in a statement on Friday. “We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), who have been supportive during this time.”
Irving promoted a movie called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” that, as Rolling Stone magazine points out, is “stuffed with anti-Semitic tropes.”
The film in question was released in 2018 and is stuffed with anti-Semitic sentiments that are based directly off a book of the same name that was released in 2015. Irving promoted the film on his Twitter account as he posted a link that redirects the viewer to the Amazon page of the film, promoting the ideology of “hate based on race, ethnicity and religion.”
Irving is yet to address his decision to promote of the film, but a statement is expected of him before the Brooklyn Nets face the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.