Anti-Defamation League: Nets’ Kyrie Irving broke ‘promise’ with latest comments
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has lashed out at Kyrie Irving over the latest remarks made by the Brooklyn Nets star.
“The answer to the question ‘Do you have any antisemitic beliefs’ is always ‘NO’ without equivocation,” Greenblatt tweeted on Thursday afternoon, as shared by Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post. “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.”
Greenblatt was responding to comments Irving made earlier in the day related to his previous sharing of a link to a movie and book that contain antisemitic tropes on social media.
“I take my responsibility for posting that,” Irving said, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. “Some things that were questionable in there, untrue. Like I said in the first time you guys asked me when I was sitting on that stage, I don’t believe everything that everybody posts — it’s a documentary. So I take my responsibility.”
When asked if he had any antisemitic beliefs, Irving responded:
“Again, I’m going to repeat. I don’t know how the label becomes justified because you guys ask me the same questions over and over again. But this is not going to turn into a spin-around cycle — questions upon questions. I told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That’s where I sit. … I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from.”
It was confirmed Wednesday evening that Irving and the Nets will each make donations of $500,000 “toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities.” The Nets explained in a released statement that they “and Kyrie Irving will work with ADL, a nonprofit organization devoted to fighting antisemitism and all types of hate that undermine justice and fair treatment for every individual.
“This is an effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry.”
As part of the Nets’ statement, Irving said he was “aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community” and took “responsibility” for his actions.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he intends to meet with Irving in person “in the next week.”
It’s unclear if Irving will be in the lineup when the Nets play at the Washington Wizards on Friday night.