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Nets owner Joe Tsai says Kyrie Irving is not antisemitic after meeting with the Nets star during his suspension

Nov 12, 2022, 02:28 IST
Insider
Kyrie Irving made his season debut on Wednesday and dazzled.Darron Cummings/AP Images
  • Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai said Kyrie Irving is not antisemitic after spending "quality time" with the star.
  • The Nets suspended Irving for sharing a movie with antisemitic material on Twitter and not apologizing.
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Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai said he recently spent "quality time" with Kyrie Irving and defended the basketball star from criticism over Irving's promotion of an antisemitic movie.

"Clara and I met with Kyrie and his family yesterday," Tsai said on Twitter.

"We spent quality time to understand each other and it's clear to me that Kyrie does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group," Tsai said.

In October, Irving shared a tweet linking to the film "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America" on Amazon Prime.

The documentary has been criticized for spreading antisemitism, including a false claim that Jewish people worship Satan, Rolling Stone reported.

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Tsai denounced Irving's messaging, saying on Twitter October 28: "I'm disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation."

Tsai continued: "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. This is bigger than basketball."

The Nets then announced both the team and Irving would each donate $500,000 to anti-hate groups after promoting the documentary.

Joe Tsai.Associated Press

But a few days later, at a press conference, Irving refused to answer whether he has any antisemitic beliefs.

"I don't know how the label becomes justified ... I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That's where I sit ... I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from," Irving told reporters.

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Irving said he took responsibility for sharing the film to Twitter, but that he is not the one who created it.

"When I repeat myself that I'm not gonna stand down, it has nothing to do with dismissing any other race or group of people, I just am proud of my heritage and what we've been through," Irving said. "The fact that this has pinned me against the Jewish community, and I'm here answering questions on whether I'm sorry or not, on something I didn't create, it was something I shared and I'm telling everybody I'm taking responsibility, then that's where I sit."

In response, the Nets suspended the star for five games over his failure to disavow antisemitism.

Irving released an apology on Instagram shortly after the suspension, writing: "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 want to clarify any confusion on where I stand fighting against Anti- semticism [sic] 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."

The Athletic reported that the Nets also outlined six steps Irving must take in order to return, including attending sensitivity trainings, meeting with the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish leaders, and making donations.

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Irving also had to meet with Tsai and other Nets leaders to "demonstrate the lessons learned and that the gravity of the harm caused in the situation is understood," according to The Athletic.

At an event on Thursday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said after speaking to Irving that he didn't believe Irving is antisemitic. Last week, Silver had released his own statement expressing dismay over Irving's lack of an apology.

"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 now needs to go through," Silver said, according to The New York Times' Sopan Deb. "I think he understands that, and incidentally, it's now with the Nets, who are working on the specifics."

Representatives for the Brooklyn Nets did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on Friday.

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