Breaking News

Trump pardons Giuliani, Powell, Chesebro and dozens more involved in 2020 ‘fake electors’ case
NBA

Kyrie Irving broke ‘promise’ with latest comments: Anti-Defamation League

By
Mark W. Sanchez
Published Nov. 3, 2022, 4:57 p.m. ET

Kyrie Irving was asked if he had any anti-Semitic beliefs.

The fact his answer was not a flat “No” has further raised the attention of the Anti-Defamation League and likely the Nets and the NBA.

Irving, speaking to media on Thursday in Brooklyn in the middle of a controversy stemming from his sharing a movie that contains anti-Semitic tropes, was asked the question, which he talked around until saying, “I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That’s where I sit.”

Asked again — yes or no — Irving responded, “I cannot be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from,” which appears to be a reference to Irving being a Black Hebrew Israelite, a group of African-Americans who believe they are the descendants of ancient Israel.

The CEO of the ADL was looking for a one-word answer and did not hear it.

1 of 3

“The answer to the question ‘Do you have any antisemitic beliefs’ is always ‘NO’ without equivocation,” Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “We took @KyrieIrving at his word when he said he took responsibility, but today he did not make good on that promise. Kyrie clearly has a lot of work to do.”

The ADL, Irving and the Nets released a joint statement Wednesday night, stating Irving and the team would donate $500,000 each to “eradicate hate and intolerance.” The statement did not include an apology from Irving, who again declined Thursday to say he was sorry for promoting the movie, “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.”

The movie, which Irving continually called a “documentary,” contains beliefs of the Black Hebrew Israelites and also unmistakable anti-Semitism, including calling the fact 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust a “falsehood.”

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt speaks at the National Leadership Summit on May 6, 2018. LightRocket via Getty Images

Earlier Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Irving linking to the movie “reckless” and said he was “disappointed” the Nets star did not offer an apology.

“We are glad @NBA commissioner Adam Silver will meet with Kyrie and demand an unqualified apology,” Greenblatt tweeted. “Silver’s statement echoes the very issues we plan to address with Kyrie, but they are even more urgent in light of Kyrie’s statements today.”

Follow Lee on X/Twitter - Father, Husband, Serial builder creating AI, crypto, games & web tools. We are friends :) AI Will Come To Life!

Check out: eBank.nz (Art Generator) | Netwrck.com (AI Tools) | Text-Generator.io (AI API) | BitBank.nz (Crypto AI) | ReadingTime (Kids Reading) | RewordGame | BigMultiplayerChess | WebFiddle | How.nz | Helix AI Assistant