Brooklyn Nets suspend Kyrie Irving over 'deeply disturbing' refusal to 'disavow antisemitism'

published 4 November 2022

The Brooklyn Nets on Thursday suspended guard Kyrie Irving for a least five games without pay, saying he's "currently unfit to be associated" with the team after his repeated refusal to apologize for posting about an antisemitic movie last week. "Over the last several days, we have made repeated attempts to work with Kyrie Irving to help him understand the harm and danger of his words and actions," the Nets said. His refusal to "disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity" was "deeply disturbing" and constituted "conduct detrimental to the team."

Since Irving posted about Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, the NBA, the Nets, the National Basketball Players Association, and team owner Joe Tsai issued statements against antisemitism, the Nets fired coach Steve Nash, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed his disappointment that Irving's "has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.