Fans wearing ‘Fight Antisemitism’ shirts occupied some courtside seats at the Brooklyn-Indiana game on Monday night, days after Nets guard Kyrie Irving tweeted out a link to a film that includes anti-Jewish tropes.
Irving posted the link to the film Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America on Twitter on Thursday. The synopsis on Amazon said the film “uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel”. The film’s director is a holocaust denier and provides a fabricated quote from Adolf Hitler in the film to promote an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Irving defended his decision to post about the film on Saturday, then deleted the tweet Sunday after a massive outcry including criticism from Nets owner Joe Tsai and the the Anti-Defamation League, along with a statement from the NBA denouncing hate speech.
Irving said on Saturday he embraced all religions and defended his right to post whatever he believes.
“I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in,” Irving said. “I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.”
Courtside at the Nets game
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) November 1, 2022
(h/t @Alec_Sturm ) pic.twitter.com/4UKj4iFteY
Nets coach Steve Nash said on Monday that he looks at the matter as “an opportunity for us to grow and understand new perspectives”.
“I think the organization is trying to take that stance or they may communicate through this, and try to all come out in a better position and with more understanding and more empathy for every side of this debate and situation,” Nash said.
One Nets season-ticket holder at the game told ESPN that Irving should be punished at a time when hate crimes against Jewish people in America are at a record high.
“I hope he realizes how much antisemitism he is stoking by putting out [a link to] a film like this,” Aaron Jungreis said. “Which is extremely anti-Jewish. And I hope he comes to his senses ... I think he should be suspended and he should understand what he did, but I don’t know if they will.”
Irving has previously supported the idea of the Earth being flat, recently shared an old clip from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and was unavailable for most of the Nets’ home games last season because he refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, as was mandated in New York City. The Nets declined to give him a contract extension this summer, meaning Irving could be in his final season with the team.
