Kyrie Irving Takes Responsibility for Promoting Antisemitic Film, but Stops Short of Apologizing

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Steven Ryan/Getty Images

Kyrie Irvingand theBrooklyn Netsannounced Wednesday that they each will be donating $500,000 to organizations in an effort to “eradicate hate and intolerance,” a week after the NBA star promoted an antisemitic film on social media.

In a statement connected to the $1 million donation, Irving, 30, recognized the harmful nature of his post — in which he shared a linkpromoting a 2018 moviebased on the 2014 bookHebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America— but did not outright apologize.

“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day,” Irving said in a joint statement with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Nets. “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen.”

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Along with the donation, the Nets will host community conversations at the Barclays Center with civil rights organizations, including the ADL, whose CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement that “antisemitism has reached historic levels.”

“With this partnership, ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding,” Greenblatt said.

Kyrie Irving.Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty

The Nets organizationpreviously shared its disapprovalof Irving’s promotion of the film, with team owner Joe Tsai tweeting that he was disappointed. Fans did so as well, with some wearing “fight antisemitism” shirtsas they sat courtsideat a Nets game on Monday night. Irving has since deleted the tweet.

“I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation,” Tsai said in apair of tweets. “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.”

Others likeCharles Barkleyhave alsooffered criticisms, with the NBA legend saying onInside the NBAthat he thinks Irving “should have been suspended” after he promoted the film. He told co-hostsShaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, “the NBA made a mistake” in not suspending him. He added that the star needs to be more responsible with his platform as a major athlete.

“We have suspended people and fined people who have made homophobic slurs, and that was the right thing to do,” Barkley said.

source: people.com