Kyrie Irving banned for ‘no less than five games’ over social media post

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving has been banned for an indeterminate number of games after refusing to apologise for his actions.

Irving has been banned. Photo by Dustin Satloff / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

The Brooklyn Nets have suspended Kyrie Irving for “at least five games” but “until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct”.

It comes after Irving retweeted a link to a film filled with anti-Semitic rhetoric last week but failed to apologise for the action, despite issuing a joint statement with the Anti-Defamation League taking responsibility for the post and fronting the media.

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The seven-time NBA All-Star also pledged to donate $US500,000 ($A788,000) to fight hate but the statements failed to hit the mark as he didn’t ad an apology.

“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalised and impacted every day,” Irving said in a statement.

“I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.”

The Nets called Irving’s failure to apologise "deeply disturbing” and said: “We are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”

Nets statement on Kyrie Irving: “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…” pic.twitter.com/Mp682Sck23

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 3, 2022

Kyrie Irving has been sat for at least five games. Photo: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images/AFP

Irving is set to meet NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the controversy in the near future.

Silver pushed for an apology from Irving and denouncing of the anti-Semitic content in a film the Nets playmaker boosted on social media, but Irving stopped short of both in a news conference later, saying only that he took responsibility for the post.

“I don’t know how the label becomes justified,” Irving said. “Just because I post a documentary (link) doesn’t mean I’m anti-Semitic. It doesn’t mean I’m automatically standing with everyone that is believing in that.

“I cannot be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from.”

Irving ignited a firestorm of controversy last week after posting a social media link to “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” — a 2018 film widely lambasted for containing a range of anti-Semitic tropes that was criticised by, among others, Nets owner Joe Tsai.

Silver was pleased with Irving’s donation and statement but sought more.

“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive anti-Semitic material,” Silver said in a statement.

“While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicise.

“I will be meeting with Kyrie in person in the next week to discuss this situation.”

Kyrie Irving is a controversial figure. Photo by Dustin Satloff / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

Asked if he was sorry on Thursday after Silver’s statement, Irving replied, “I take my responsibility for posting that.

“Some things that were questionable in there, untrue … I didn’t mean to cause any harm. I’m not the one that made the documentary.”

Pressed on what he saw as incorrect in the movie, Irving said: “Some of the criticism of the Jewish faith and the community, for sure,” and described Holocaust denial as a “falsehood.”

Irving has been a controversial figure in the NBA, having missed much of last season over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19, calling vaccine mandates a human rights violation.

Irving, who once caused a flap by suggesting he believes the Earth is flat, spoke about Black history and slavery as well, calling himself a “beacon of light” in darkness.

“I’ve been growing up in a country that told me I wasn’t worth anything and I came from a slave class,” Irving said.

“So I’m not here to compare anyone’s atrocities or tragic events that their families have dealt with for generations of time.

“I’m just here to continue to expose things that our world continues to put in darkness. I’m a beacon of light. That’s what I’m here to do.”

Originally published as Kyrie Irving banned for ‘no less than five games’ over social media post