Nets’ Joe Tsai ‘disappointed’ in Kyrie Irving for promoting antisemitic film: ‘It is wrong to promote hate’
In a crucial contract year, Nets star Kyrie Irving has so far been excelling on the court and saying all the right things to the media, holding his teammates accountable for a slow start to the year.
Just a few weeks into the season, though, Irving has suddenly become embroiled in yet another off-court controversy, one serious enough that Nets governor Joe Tsai issued a public condemnation in response on Twitter.
On Thursday, Irving tweeted an Amazon link to the film “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.” As detailed by Rolling Stone, the film contains antisemitic themes.
Via Rolling Stone:
“A description for the film states that it ‘uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel,’ while a similar one for the book reads, “Since the European and Arab slave traders stepped foot into Africa, blacks have been told lies about their heritage.” Both suggest Hebrews to Negroes espouse ideas in line with more extreme factions of the Black Hebrew Israelites, which have a long history of misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and especially antisemitism.”
The Nets released an initial response to Nets Daily, saying the “Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech.”
Tsai followed up with a personal response on Friday, tweeting that he wants to meet with Irving and “make sure he understands” it is “wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.”
This is bigger than basketball
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) October 29, 2022
Irving’s promotion of the film comes in the wake of Ye’s controversy over antisemitic remarks. The artist formerly known as Kanye West has lost various endorsement deals in recent days, and several athletes, notably Jaylen Brown and Aaron Donald, have cut ties with his Donda Sports agency.
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