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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
James O’Connell

Nets’ owner Joe Tsai condemns Kyrie Irving for controversial tweet

NEW YORK — Nets’ owner Joe Tsai condemned his star point guard, Kyrie Irving, for a tweet that shared an antisemitic film.

Tsai released a statement Friday night on Twitter.

“I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation,” Tsai tweeted. “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.”

Irving shared a movie called “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.” According to Rolling Stone, “The video is based on a venomously antisemitic book which asserts that “many famous high-ranking Jews” have “admitted” to “worship[ing] Satan or Lucifer.”

The 30-year-old point guard is no stranger to controversy. Irving posted a clip on Twitter in September of Alex Jones promoting conspiracy theories and sat out a majority of the Nets’ home games last season due to reluctance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Nets organization also released a statement condemning Irving’s latest tweet.

“The Brooklyn Nets strongly condemn and have no tolerance for the promotion of any form of hate speech,” the team said Friday. “We believe that in these situations, our first action must be open, honest dialogue. We thank those, including the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), who have been supportive during this time.”

Irving has not addressed his decision to share the film.

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