In a statement Friday night, the Brooklyn Nets and their billionaire owner Joe Tsai condemned a film they claimed is full of antisemitic rhetoric linked to a high-profile figure.
The NBA star's promotion of a film drew condemnation from his team.
A movie based on a book by the same name that has been decried by some groups as being antisemitic was linked to by Irving on Thursday.
It's wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion, and as a man of faith, I want to sit down and make sure he understands.
The Nets said in a statement that they have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech.
Irving has a history of making controversial statements and decisions, including his refusal to get a Covid-19 vaccine, and his reposting of a far-right Alex Jones clip that promoted a "new world order".
In just a few weeks, a post by Irving comes just after a post by West drew condemnation as being antisemitic and filled with "tropes like greed and control", while also drawing applause from Nazi protesters. West, who legally changed his name to Ye, has also been dropped by his talent agency and record label. According to unnamed sources close to the musician, West was going to name his next album after Hitler. The ban on celebrities and politicians from the social media site could be lifted following Musk's takeover. Musk, who has slammed the social media giant for its moderation policies, has entertained the idea of lifting bans and creating a marketplace of free speech.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, there were 2,717 antisemitic incidents in the US in 2021. Neo-Nazi groups have been on the rise in recent years with the far-right extreme groups taking inspiration from Nazi Germany. The Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was the site of a shooting that killed 11 people. President Joe Biden created a Special Envoy to address and combat antisemitism, which is defined by the office as discrimination, prejudice or hatred towards Jews.
He is the 260th richest person in the world. Last year, Irving was the 22nd highest paid athlete in the world, having signed a four-year contract with the Nets.
Here's everything he's said in the last few weeks.
The anti-Semitism backlash is getting more powerful.
The Nets condemn the promotion of the film by Irving.
Musk says that it cannot become a free-for-all hellscape before purchase.
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