Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was asked Thursday if he was apologizing when he said he meant no offense after tweeting a link to the 2018 film “Jews on Black: Wake Up Black America.”
“I meant no harm,” Irving replied. “I’m not the one who made the documentary.”
Irving was condemned last week by Nets owner Joe Tsai and the NBA, among others, for tweeting a link to the film, which is based on Ronald Dalton’s book of the same name and has been called anti-Semitic by civil rights groups .
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Irving said: “I take full responsibility, and I’ll say it again, for posting something on my Instagram or Twitter that may have had some unfortunate falsehoods.
“I take responsibility for publishing this,” Irving continued. “Some things that were questionable in there, untrue.
“Like I said the first time you asked me while I was sitting on that stage. I don’t believe everything everyone posts. It’s a documentary. So I take my responsibilities.”
Asked if he held anti-Semitic beliefs, Irving replied: “I respect all walks of life. I embrace all walks of life. That’s where I sit.”
When pressed to answer yes or no to the question, he replied: “I can’t be anti-Semitic if I know where I come from.”
Irving’s media appearance came after he and the Brooklyn Nets announced Wednesday that they would both donate $500,000 to anti-hate organizations after the point guard tweeted the documentary.
In a joint statement between Irving, the Nets and the Anti-Defamation League — a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred that undermine justice and fair treatment for every person — the 30-year-old said he took “the responsibility for the “negative impact” his post had on the Jewish community.
“I stand against all forms of hate and oppression and stand strong against communities that are marginalized and affected every day,” Irving said.
“I know the negative impact my post has had on the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe that everything said in the documentary was true or reflected my morals and principles.
“I am a person who learns from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So, from my family and I, we meant no harm to any group, race or religion of people and wish to be only a beacon of truth and light.”
Earlier this week, NBA analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said he believed the league “dropped the ball” on Irving and that he believed the player should have been ejected.
On Tuesday, when asked why Irving had not been disciplined for his actions, Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters: “I think we’re having those conversations behind the scenes.
“I honestly don’t want to deal with them now. … I’m really just trying to weigh exactly what the best course of action is here.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver says he’s “disappointed” with Irving after the guard didn’t apologize or denounce the “harmful content contained in the film he chose to release.” Silver will meet with Irving next week, the commissioner said in a statement Thursday.
“Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a movie that contains deeply offensive anti-Semitic material,” Silver said.
“While we appreciate that he has agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not apologized unreservedly and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in film he chose to publicize.”
Irving was not made available to the media Monday or Tuesday after the Nets’ games those days.
The joint statement said the donations were made to “eliminate hatred and intolerance in our communities”.
“This is an effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of anti-Semitism and bigotry,” the statement said.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said: “At a time when anti-Semitism has reached historic levels, we know that the best way to combat the oldest hatred is to confront it head-on and also to change hearts and minds. minds.
“With this partnership, the ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding.
“At the same time, we will remain vigilant and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes – whatever they are, whoever the source – as we work towards a world without hate.”
Kanye West, who has come under fire after making anti-Semitic comments on social media and in interviews, showed his support for Irving by tweeting a photo of the guard on Thursday.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has previously said that Jews have too much control in the business world.
He threatened in a post on Twitter to “Die the JEW”. He also spoke out in an Instagram post about Ari Emanuel, CEO of talent agency Endeavor, referring to “entrepreneurs” when he clearly meant Jews.
Last Friday, he told the paparazzi that his mental health issues had been misdiagnosed by a Jewish doctor, referenced Jewish ownership of the media and compared Planned Parenthood to the Holocaust.