After promoting an anti-Semitic movie on his social media, Kyrie Irving was suspended from the Brooklyn Nets for five games without pay. However, this was not the only problem that caused the controversy. is that now Nike has stopped sponsoring and the launch of the sneakers in collaboration with the NBA basketball player.
To announce its decision, the American company released an official statement: “At Nike, we believe there is no room for hate speech e We condemn all forms of anti-Semitism “.
“We have decided to terminate our relationship with Kyrie Irving immediately and will not release Kyrie 8. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by this situation and for its impact on everyone, “he added.
In this way, the extensive bond between Nike and Irving I reach its end. The company had hired the athlete in 2011, the year in which he debuted in the NBA as the number one in the draft. In 2014 he launched his first line of shoes dedicated to point guards.
Irving’s apologies
Although at first he avoided apologizing, days later he stopped avoiding controversy and showed up on his social networks. “To all Jewish families and communities who have been hurt and affected by my publication, I am deeply sorry that I caused you pain and I apologize“.
“I want to clear up any confusion about where I am in the fight against anti-Semitism. I had no intention of disrespecting Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuating hatred,” said the point guard, who admitted that the controversial documentary contained “false and anti-Semitic statements, narratives and language” that were “offensive” to Jews.
In announcing Irving’s suspension, the Nets said they had made “repeated attempts” to work with Irving so that he “understood the harm and danger of his words and actions, starting with the ad for a film that contained a hate. deeply anti-Semitic “. .
“We were appalled that today (Thursday), when he had a media opportunity, Kyrie refused to say unequivocally that he has no anti-Semitic beliefs and that he did not recognize the particularly hateful material in the film. This was not. the first time he had the opportunity – and wasted it – to make it clear, “added the franchise.
Irving’s controversy
What started with a “simple” post on his Twitter account in which they are followed by four and a half million users ended up meaning Kyrie Irving being disqualified from the Brooklyn Nets, her team in the NBA, without pay.
The basketball player posted on the social network an Amazon link to the movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” (2018), a film based on a book of the same name published in 2015 that includes multiple anti-Semitic claims such as “many Jewish celebrities have admitted having prayed to Satan or Lucifer “.
After trying to get Irving to apologize publicly, the Brooklyn Nets announced the suspension of the player “for at least five games”. The causes? Promote the anti-Semitic film and subsequently refuse to apologize for it “clearly and emphatically”.
In a statement, the franchise said it has made “repeated attempts” in recent days to work with Irving so that he “understands the harm and danger of his words and deeds.”
“We were appalled that today, when given a media opportunity, Kyrie refused to say unequivocally that he has no anti-Semitic beliefs and that he hasn’t even recognized the particularly hateful material in the film. This wasn’t the first time he had the opportunity – and wasted – to clarify, “added the club.
The Nets have assured that such behavior “goes against the values” of the franchise and pointed out that Irving, at this time, is unable to be associated with the group. He has had other controversies in the past, such as his refusal to apply the vaccine that prevents coronavirus.
“We have decided that Kyrie will serve a disqualification without pay until she has completed a series of objective and corrective measures that will address the harmful impact of her conduct and the suspension period will be no less than five games,” the Nets closed.
With information from EFE.
Source: Clarin
