Kyrie Irving is unlikely to be punished for tweeting a link to a movie with anti-Semitic messages, according to reports.
Irving caused a Twitter storm by posting a link to a movie on Thursday, Hebrews And Negroes, which many consider to be anti-semitic, before insisting he would not delete the tweet. On Sunday night, the Brooklyn Nets star deleted the post.
Irving's action prompted criticism, including from the owner of his team, Joe Tsai. He tweeted on Saturday: "I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation. 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."
A statement from the Nets added it 'strongly condemns and has no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech'.
Campaigners against anti-semitism also weighed in to criticise the NBA star, but the New York Post reports that Irving is 'not expected' to be punished for his actions. He started Saturday for the 1-5 Nets against the Indiana Pacers and the 30-year-old guard is due to play in Monday's rematch between the teams.
Irving tweeted on Saturday: "I meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs. The “anti-semitic” label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in every day. I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions."
The film in question was directed by Ronald Dalton Jr and released in 2018. It is based on the 2015 book of the same name, which contains anti-semitic themes.
Irving, aged 30, has been a star in the league since being taken with the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011, winning a championship in 2016 and playing in seven NBA All-Star games.
However, he courted controversy in recent times, missing several games last season due to his decision not to have the Covid-19 vaccine. He was also criticised earlier this year for posting a tweet about a 'New World Order' conspiracy theory from Alex Jones, the far-right social media personality who earlier this month was ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages to families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting after being sued for defamation.
Irving was questioned about his latest controversial tweet in a press conference over the weekend, with a reporter asking why he promoted the film.
"Please stop calling it a promotion," Irving replied. "I put it out there, just like you put things out there. You put things out there for a living, right? Don't dehumanise me up here."
