After Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving promoted an anti-Semitic film on his social media page last week, Nike stated on Friday that it has suspended its relationship with Irving.
“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism. To that end, we’ve made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone,” Nike said in a statement.
Also read: Kyrie Irving’s antisemitism controversy: A timeline
Since 2014, Irving has worked with Nike in a partnership, creating many pairs of signature basketball shoes. However, according to a May report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, Irving’s NBA future uncertainty made it impossible for Nike to renew his signature shoe agreement with Irving past 2023.
Last week, Irving used social media to promote Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. According to a Rolling Stone article written by Jon Blistein, the movie contains viewpoints “in line with more extreme factions of the Black Hebrew Israelites, which have a long history of misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and especially antisemitism.”
After meeting with the media earlier in the day, Irving “refused to unequivocally claim he has no antisemitic ideas,” according to the Nets’ statement on Thursday, they suspended him for at least five games.
The media conference on Thursday was only one of several chances Irving had this week to condemn antisemitism. He informed reporters that he “respects all walks of life,” although at the time he did not express an official apology or claim to have no antisemitic ideas.
Irving apologised to the Jewish community on Instagram after the Nets announced his suspension.
Also read: Kanye West backs Kyrie Irving over anti-semitism row, slams Shaq, Amar’e Stoudemire
He wrote, “While doing research on YHWH, I posted a Documentary that contained some false anti-Semitic statements, narratives, and language that were untrue and offensive to the Jewish Race/Religion, and I take full accountability and responsibly for my actions. I am grateful to have a big platform to share knowledge and I want to move forward by having an open dialogue to learn more and grow from this. To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize. 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. I want to clarify any confusion on where I stand fighting against Anti- semticism by apologizing for posting the documentary without context and a factual explanation outlining the specific beliefs in the Documentary I agreed with and disagreed with. I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate. I am learning from this unfortunate event and hope we can find understanding between us all. I am no different than any other human being. I am a seeker of truth and knowledge, and I know who I Am.”
Irving will be able to suit up for the Brooklyn Nets against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 13 if his suspension is reduced to the required five games.
