Kyrie Irving blows up after being questioned over ‘anti-Semitic’ posts

An NBA star has been heavily criticised after losing his cool during a press conference after he was grilled over “anti-Semitic” posts.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 29: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on October 29, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Indiana Pacers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 125-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving wasn’t having any of it on Sunday when a reporter tried questioning his social media posts.

Irving drew widespread backlash after posting a tweet and Instagram story that included an Amazon page marketing — and tacitly endorsing — a 2018 film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” that has been described as filled with anti-Semitic disinformation.

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Nets owner Joe Tsai said he was “disappointed” by Kyrie’s actions with the Nets stating they “strongly condemn hate speech”.

On Sunday, Irving fronted a press conference and was questioned over the posts by ESPN reporter Nick Friedell with things becoming heated as Irving snapped back, refusing to answer the question.

“I am an OMNIST and I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs,” Irving said on Twitter.

“The ‘antisemitic’ 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.” Tsai said in a Twitter post on Friday he was “disappointed” that Irving drew attention to the 2018 film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America”.

Friedell labelled Irving’s posts promoting anti-Semitic behaviour, Irving didn’t take kindly to the assertion he was promoting anything despite putting it on social media to his combined 22m followers across Twitter and Instagram.

“Please stop calling it a promotion,” Irving said. “What am I promoting? I put it out there, just like you put things out there. You put things out there for a living, right?

“Let’s move on,” he said, and as the reporter attempted to pursue the line of questioning added: “Don’t dehumanise me up here.

“I’m another human being, I can post whatever I want, so say that and shut it down and move on to the next question.

“I don’t have to understand anything from you, nothing. Move on, next question. Do you guys have anymore questions?

“Because this is going to be a clip that he’s going to marvel at,” Irving said, as the journalist responded: “But you’re not answering the question.”

Kyrie Irving going back and forth with @NickFriedell during the Nets postgame presser 😳#NBATwitter#NetsWorldpic.twitter.com/Mn2dSsirSN

— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 (@_Talkin_NBA) October 30, 2022

The back and forth between the NBA star and reporter quickly went viral with many social media users calling out Irving.

Producer Aditya Sood wrote: “Is this the dumbest man to ever play in the NBA?”

Axios journalist Kendall Baker wrote: “Two days after posting a link to an antisemitic film (that’s still up), here’s Kyrie Irving: Claiming that posting a link to something isn’t promoting it, playing the victim, accusing a journalist of “dehumanising” him by simply asking about it.”

Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur wrote: “This is good work by Friedell, and childishness from Kyrie. He knows he’s spreading the ideas he spreads. He doesn’t understand how wrong and dangerous they often are, but he understands the reach of his platform. He’s just pretending promoting has a narrower meaning than it does.”

In which Kyrie Irving describes Alex Jones as a truth teller. Yikes. https://t.co/OnE9dl0rMS

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 30, 2022

This is only the latest instance of Irving having thrust himself into controversial subject matter.

In September, Irving shared on his Instagram a 2002 conspiracy video of Alex Jones decrying a “New World Order.”

Last season, Irving also found himself embroiled over his COVID-19 vaccine scepticism, which cost him much of his season with the team. And in 2018, Irving, then on the Celtics, claimed the Earth is flat before later apologising.

Originally published as Kyrie Irving blows up after being questioned over ‘anti-Semitic’ posts