CNN
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Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving stated that he’s “not going to stand down on anything I believe in” after he was condemned by the proprietor of his NBA workforce for tweeting a hyperlink to a documentary deemed to be antisemitic.
The star guard tweeted a hyperlink Thursday to the 2018 film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” which relies on Ronald Dalton’s e book of the identical title. Rolling Stone described the e book and film as “stuffed with antisemitic tropes.”
In a fraught post-game press convention after the Nets misplaced to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, Irving defended his resolution to submit a hyperlink to the documentary.
“In terms of the backlash, we’re in 2022, history is not supposed to be hidden from anybody and I’m not a divisive person when it comes to religion, I embrace all walks of life,” he stated.
“So the claims of antisemitism and who are the original chosen people of God and we go into these religious conversations and it’s a big no, no, I don’t live my life that way.”
Several organizations have condemned Irving’s tweet, together with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets, and Nets’ proprietor Joe Tsai.
“I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation,” Nets proprietor Joe Tsai tweeted Friday night time.
“I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.”
Tsai added, “This is bigger than basketball.”
Irving stated within the press convention that he “respects what Joe [Tsai] said,” however claimed that he had not tweeted one thing dangerous.
“Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody, did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people?”
“It’s on Amazon, a public platform, whether you want to go watch it or not, is up to you,” Irving stated. “There’s things being posted every day. I’m no different than the next human being, so don’t treat me any different.”
CNN has requested Amazon for remark however, on the time of publication, had not acquired a response.
At the identical time, Irving acknowledged his “unique position” to affect his neighborhood, however stated “what I post does not mean that I support everything that’s being said or everything that’s being done or I’m campaigning for anything.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, in a tweet on Friday referred to as Irving’s social media submit “troubling.”
“The book and film he promotes trade in deeply #antisemitic themes, including those promoted by dangerous sects of the Black Hebrew Israelites movement. Irving should clarify now.”
The Nets additionally spoke out towards the star guard’s tweet.
“The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech,” the workforce stated in a assertion to CNN.
“We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), who have been supportive during this time.”
The NBA issued a assertion saying, “Hate speech of any variety is unacceptable and runs counter to the NBA’s values of equality, inclusion and respect.
“We believe we all have a role to play in ensuring such words or ideas, including antisemitic ones, are challenged and refuted and we will continue working with all members of the NBA community to ensure that everyone understands the impact of their words and actions.”
Rolling Stone, in the meantime, stated the film and e book embrace concepts according to some “extreme factions” throughout the Black Hebrew Israelite motion which have expressed antisemitic and different discriminatory sentiments.
During the press convention, Irving was additionally requested about his resolution to share a video created by far-right speak present host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who was lately ordered to pay almost $1 billion in damages to Sandy Hook households for his lies about the bloodbath.
Irving clarified that he didn’t agree with Jones’ false claims that the Sandy Hook capturing was staged however stood by sharing Jones’ submit in September “about secret societies in America of occults,” that Irving believed to be “true.”
