CNN
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Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was asked Thursday if he was apologizing when he said he meant no offense after posting a link to the 2018 film “Jews in Black: Awakening Black America.”
“I didn’t mean to do any 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 movie, which is based on Ronald Dalton’s book of the same name and has been called anti-Semitic by anti-Semitic groups. civil rights.
While meeting with the media on Thursday, Irving said: “I take full responsibility, I’ll say it again, for posting something on my Instagram or Twitter that may have had some unfortunate falsehoods in it.
“I take responsibility for his post,” Irving continued. “Some things that were suspicious there, untrue.
“Like I said the first time you all asked me while I was sitting on that stage. I don’t believe everything everyone posts. It’s a documentary. So I take my responsibility.”
Asked if he held any anti-Semitic beliefs, Irving replied: “I respect all walks of life. I embrace all walks of life. Here I am sitting.”
When pressed to answer the yes or no question, he replied: “I can’t be anti-Semitic if I know where I’m coming from.”
Irving’s media outing came after he and the Brooklyn Nets announced Wednesday that they will 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 individual” — the 30-year-old said he received “responsibility” for the “negative impact” his post had on the Jewish community.
“I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and affected every day,” Irving said.
“I am aware of the negative impact of my post on the Jewish community and take responsibility. I do not believe that everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles.
“I am a human being 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 wanted to not harm any group, race or religion of people and we only want to be a beacon of truth and light.”
Earlier this week, NBA analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said he thought the league “dropped the ball” on Irving and that he believed the player should have been suspended.
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 these discussions behind the scenes.
“Honestly, I don’t want to get into them right now. … We’re 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 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 offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile content. and harmful. included in the film he chose to release.”
Irving was not made available to the media Monday or Tuesday after the Nets’ games on those days.
The joint statement states that the donations were made to “root out hatred and intolerance in our communities”.
“This is an effort to develop educational programs that are 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 fight the oldest hatred is to confront it head-on and change hearts too and 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 maintain our vigilance and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes — whatever, whoever, or wherever the source — as we work toward 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 posting a photo of the guard on Thursday.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has previously said that Jews have too much control over the business world.
He threatened in a tweet that “Go to death 3 for the JEWS”. He was also lambasted in an Instagram post about Ari Emanuel, CEO of talent agency Endeavor, referring to “business” people when he clearly meant Jews.
Last Friday, he told paparazzi that his mental health issues had been misdiagnosed by a Jewish doctor, referred to Jewish ownership of the media and compared Planned Parenthood to the Holocaust.
