Kyrie Irving's Partnership with Nike Officially Terminated amid Antisemitism Controversy

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty

Kyrie Irvingis no longer partnered with Nike, PEOPLE can confirm.

One month afterthe athletic apparel brand announced that they would distance themselves from the Brooklyn Nets player, 30, and cancel the release of the Kyrie 8, Nike says in a statement to PEOPLE: “Kyrie Irving is no longer a Nike athlete.”

Nike reevaluated their working relationship with Irving followinghis poston Twitter, where he shared a link to the filmHebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black Americain October that contains antisemitic messaging.

He extended his appreciation in afollow-up post, writing in part, “To my Tribe: ‘I am because you are.’ "

While PEOPLE did not receive an immediate response from Irving’s representation, his agent and stepmother Shetellia Riley said in a statement to CNN, “Both parties have agreed tomutually depart ways. We wish Nike the best in their future endeavors.”

The end of Irving’s relationship with Nike comes after his teamtook a firm standagainst antisemitism and suspended him for at least five games without pay in November.

Dustin Satloff/Getty

The statement read, in part: “To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize. I initially reacted out of emotion to being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were hurt from the hateful remarks made in the Documentary.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In October, the NBAissued a statementfollowing Irving’s initial tweet, writing in part that “hate speech of any kind is unacceptable and runs counter to the NBA’s values of equality, inclusion and respect.”

source: people.com