It seems like only yesterday, Kanye West was under the spotlight for his antisemitic remarks. With a global outcry and condemnation of the rapper and his remarks, one would have understood the impact of their words and actions. It was perhaps surprising then, that Kyrie Irving would share something controversial in the current climate.
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Kyrie Irving recently promoted a film titled, ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America’ on social media. The film has been criticized for its antisemitic nature. And by default, since the Brooklyn Nets guard has endorsed the film, many questioned if he shared the same sentiments as well.
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Kyrie Irving put out a statement and announced he was an omnist. An omnist is a person who believes in all religions. He told that he had no intentions of disrespecting any religious beliefs. Irving also clarified that the label of being an antisemitic was so far removed from the truth of his personality. He ended it with his usual infinity and fingers crossed emoji.
I am an OMNIST and I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs. The “Anti-Semitic” label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in everyday. I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions.
Hélà🤞🏾♾
— Chief Hélà 🤞🏾 (@KyrieIrving) October 29, 2022
During a postgame conference as well, Irving said that he was not a divisive person. He defended himself and asked if he did an illegal activity or whether he harmed somebody. He said that he didn’t explicitly condemn a group of people.
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Notably, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets, billionaire?Joe Tsai, commented on this incident and expressed his disappointment. Tsai tweeted that being a man of faith himself, he wanted to introspect with Irving and help him understand how “hurtful” his promotions were. Steve Nash, Nets head coach, said that the organization spoke to Irving about the matter and left it at that. Even the league stated that “hate speech of any kind is unacceptable”.
The Brooklyn Nets, in their statement, also made it clear how they don’t encourage or support hate speech. They also thanked the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) who helped them navigate the situation.
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Irving has always been a controversial figure due to his beliefs and actions. He previously supported the flat-earth theory and during the pandemic, he was one of the few players who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
What did you think of Kyrie Irving’s comments? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.