The Brooklyn Nets released a statement Friday night condemning star point guard Kyrie Irving's promotion of an antisemitic film.
Irving tweeted an Amazon Prime Video link to the movie "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America" on Thursday. He also shared a screenshot of the movie's Amazon page on his Instagram Story.
The film was released in 2018 and is based on a 2015 book with the same title. As Rolling Stone detailed, the movie and book are "stuffed with antisemitic tropes."
"The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech," the team said in a statement to multiple outlets. "We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the [Anti-Defamation League], who have been supportive during this time."
Nets owner Joe Tsai said in a tweet that he was "disappointed" in Irving.
"I'm disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation," Tsai said. "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."
"This is bigger than basketball," Tsai added in a second tweet.
Sports
Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and more
Irving responded Saturday afternoon by tweeting that he "meant no disrespect to anyone's religious beliefs." He did not address the film itself nor why he posted about it on social media.
"I am an Omnist and I meant no disrespect to anyone's religious beliefs," Irving's tweet read. "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."
Irving made the social media posts hours before the Nets' loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. The posts came over a month after Irving shared an old video of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on his Instagram Story.
Brooklyn's next game is Saturday night against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center.
