Chris Menahan
InformationLiberation
Israeli Ambassador Boasts He’s Been ‘Put In His Place’
Kyrie Irving was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday for failing to apologize profusely enough for sharing a link to an “anti-Semitic” documentary, even though he pledged to work with the Anti-Defamation League to fight “hate” and pay them a $500,000 “donation” to get off his back just one day ago.
After Irving was pressured again on Thursday by the media to apologize for his alleged “anti-Semitic beliefs,” Irving responded by saying he “respects all walks of life” and said, “I cannot be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from,” suggesting he identifies as an Israelite.
Kyrie Irving is asked if he has any anti-Semitic beliefs: pic.twitter.com/hHI8FFqMbs
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 3, 2022
The Brooklyn Nets’ owners responded with outrage, immediately suspending Irving for his insubordination and ordering him to undergo re-education to “address the harmful impact of his conduct.”
The Nets wrote in a press release:
BROOKLYN – Over the last several days, we have made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions, which began with him publicizing a film containing deeply disturbing antisemitic hate. We believed that taking the path of education in this challenging situation would be the right one and thought that we had made progress with our joint commitment to eradicating hate and intolerance.
We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify.
Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets. We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period served is no less than five games.