Kyrie Irving Movie Controversy: The Reasons Behind the Fallout With the Brooklyn Nets and Nike

Before the Mavericks star was making moves in Dallas, Kyrie Irving used to play for the Brooklyn Nets. His tenure with the Nets was not the smoothest, the player was making headlines for his alleged anti-semitic comments. He faced severe backlash from fans and his comments even resulted in a suspension. So what exactly went down?

On October 27, 2022, Irving posted a link to the movie “Hebrews to N*groes: Wake Up Black America.” A movie that has previously drawn criticism for damaging antisemitic stereotypes and denying the Holocaust. The tweet, and later a related Instagram post from the player, received a lot of backlash and demands for accountability. The movie contained denials of the Holocaust, quotations ascribed to Henry Ford and Adolf Hitler, and allegations that Jewish people worship Satan, control the media, and run the Atlantic slave trade.

On November 3, 2022, the Brooklyn Nets suspended Irving indefinitely in response to his acts and his initial refusal to offer an apology or explain his position on antisemitism. In addition to being a disciplinary action, the suspension served as a statement against hate speech and intolerance. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is Jewish himself, criticized him for “not offering an unqualified apology” or explicitly denouncing the film’s content.

Nike, one of Irving’s main sponsors, also moved quickly, cutting off communication with the athlete. They also canceled the release of his next signature sneaker. Nike’s move was a clear statement of their stand on Irving’s promotion of hate speech. “At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism,” the company said. Irving’s agent, Shetellia Riley Irving told CNBC that the decision was mutual. “We have mutually decided to part ways and wish Nike the best in their future endeavors,” she said.

Following the tweet, Joseph Tsai, the owner of the Nets stated that he was “disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-Semitic disinformation“ and that he intended to speak with Irving about the matter further. But the discussion could not have gone very well cause soon after the 2022-23 season ended, the player requested a trade.

Kyrie Irving’s response to anti-semitism allegations and fallout with Nets

At first, Irving doubled down on his support for the movie, arguing that he had the right to freedom of expression and historical awareness. Irving tweeted that deeming him antisemitic was “not justified“, and that he intended to “learn from all walks of life and religions“.   That following day, Irving defended the tweet and denied having any religious prejudices to reporters during a post-game press conference at Barclays Center. He said “history is not supposed to be hidden from anybody” and that “I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in. I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.” Irving then deletes the tweet on October 30.

But after his suspension, as the criticism grew, Irving apologized over Instagram. While expressing regret for the damage caused, he was adamant that spreading hate was not his goal. Nike kept the suspension in place despite this apology. Irving’s suspension was scheduled to last at least five games, but it was unclear when he would be allowed to rejoin the team. Sean Marks, general manager of the Brooklyn Nets, listed many requirements for Irving’s readmission, including meeting with Jewish leaders and undergoing counseling. The fan base remained split even after Irving met with league executives and team owners. Some even held reservations about welcoming him back.

Later, Kyrie commented on the exit and said, “I just think it was time to get my own peace of mind and go somewhere where I was able to thrive and be in a situation where I didn’t have to worry about kind of behind-the-back talk or the media talk or not knowing how to handle real-life circumstances that has nothing to do with the game of basketball.”

It is undeniable that the incident drastically changed his relationship with his team, resulting in clear incompatibilities. The Nets traded him to Dallas in 2023 and the rest is history.