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)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed his meeting with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving as he said that he has no doubt that Irving is not anti-Semitic.
Kyrie Irving has been amongst the headlines for all the wrong reasons since the last couple of weeks. The Brooklyn Nets superstar has been right in the centre of controversy courtesy of promoting an anti-Semitic film a couple of weeks ago, and because of his inability to confirm his lack of anti-Semitic beliefs – was suspended by the Nets for five games without pay.
It all began when Irving took to his Twitter to promote a film known as “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” – a 2018 film based on a book of the same name. While Irving posted a link to the film’s page on Amazon, he went viral in no time when fans found out that the film portrays age-old anti-Semitic tropes and sentiments – beginning the barrage of backlash.
The Nets and their owner Joe Tsai immediately came out with statements condemning “hatred based on race, ethnicity and religion” – however, it was not enough to make Kyrie apologize or even strongly deny any anti-Semitic beliefs. It was then when the Nets chose to suspend Irving – however, they also set him a set of regulations to follow if he wants to return to action.
One of them included Kyrie meeting NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who has recently spoken about meeting Irving.
Silver recently spoke about meeting Kyrie and confirmed his lack of anti-Semitic beliefs.
“It’s something I’ve been very involved in. It’s obviously an incredibly unfortunate situation,” Silver said, via The New York Times. “It’s not a secret. I met with Kyrie earlier this week.”
“I personally, based on what he said directly to me, have no doubt that he’s not antisemitic, but I think there’s a process that he’s going to now need to go through. I think he understands that and incidentally, it’s now with the Nets who are working with specifics.”
More News:
• Brooklyn Nets without Kyrie Irving are one of the best teams in the NBA