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Kyrie Irving is going to Kyrie Irving. The superstar NBA point guard with the questionable social media decision-making skills is mired in controversy due to one of his latest tweets, and apparently, he’s not backing down.
In case you need to get up to speed, Irving shared a tweet on Thursday (Oct. 27) of ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,’ with a link to purchase the film (it’s still up) and the doc is widely described as antisemitic, or at least per Rolling Stone. Considering the spiral everyone is witnessing with Kanye West due to his antisemitic rhetoric, the timing of the tweet couldn’t be any worse.
Nets owner Joe Tsai took to Twitter the next day to essentially slam Irving for the tomfoolery, and the NBA would issue a statement admonishing hate speech as well.
“I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of antisemitic disinformation,” tweeted Tsai. “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.”
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.
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) October 29, 2022
Then on Saturday (Oct. 29), Irving tweeted that he is not antisemitic, but he is OMNIST or, one who believes in all religions.
I am an OMNIST and 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 everyday. I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions.
Hélà
— Hélà (@KyrieIrving) October 29, 2022
The Nets took an L in Saturday night’s game. The post-game presser turned out to be a doozie, with Irving getting into a heated back and forth with a reporter.
Reports ESPN:
“I’m not here to argue over a person or a culture or a religion and what they believe,” Irving said following the Nets 125-116 loss to the Indiana Pacers. “Nah, this is what’s here. It’s on a public platform. Did I do anything illegal? Did I hurt anybody? Did I harm anybody? Am I going out and saying that I hate one specific group of people? So out of all of the judgment that people got for me posting, without talking to me, and then I respect what Joe [Tsai] said, but there has a lot to do with not ego or pride of how proud I am to be [of] African heritage, but also to be living as a free Black man here in America, knowing the historical complexities for me to get here.
“So I’m not going to stand down on anything that I believe in. I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.”
Also, Irving clearly can’t keep up with his own free thinking. The back and forth when the aforementioned reporter, Nick Friedell, asked him about the tweet quickly went left, and full of cringe, with Irving refusing to answer the question (“Why promote an antisemitic film?”) amidst the usual “free thinker” spin.
Kyrie first proclaims:
“I’m in a unique position to have a level of influence on my community.”Less than a minute later, Irving states: “I am no different than any other human being… You guys come in here and make up this powerful influence I have.”pic.twitter.com/ASrfcxjNJ0
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) October 30, 2022
Irving did say he doesn’t stand with Alex Jones, though.
Needless to say, the reactions have been, something… See more in the gallery.
nets might as well start burning it down today. waive — yes — kyrie, trade durant and go from there. there is zero cause for optimism, and it’s not like this experiment is making them money. it’s a wrap.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) October 30, 2022
1.
The impossible thing with people like Kyrie and all the other “free thinkers” is that any pushback to their nonsense, whether generally or from individuals, becomes evidence to them that they’re right. They’re just the enlightened few who have discovered truths no one else has.
— Zito (@_Zeets) October 29, 2022
2.
“We talked to Kyrie” isn’t really indicative of anything tho. I feel for Kerr and them because this is going to only get worse. Kyrie isn’t a dude who knows how to turn things down. Only make things more inflammatory.
— Rod (@rodimusprime) October 30, 2022
3.
The Reporter should’ve let it go. Despite his personal feelings, he was clearly trying to bait Kyrie into a back & forth for a viral moment. And here we are. A viral moment. Kyrie also has to understand his influence & posting what he did could be seen as promotion. https://t.co/OE1EyjgJEc
— YouTube Guy (@SneakerPhetish) October 30, 2022
4.
Richard Jefferson calls out Kyrie Irving on YES broadcast: "…It is disappointing, Kyrie says that he's not antisemitic and these things, but the tweet is still up. The tweet is still up there." #Nets pic.twitter.com/d98Q5rcAjw
— Jennifer X. Williams (@JenXperience) October 30, 2022
5.
Kyrie is like most faux intellectuals. They don’t read, so their whole mantra is rooted in YouTube clips. They don’t explain the things they say because their attitude is based on the idea that they speak and others listen. They don’t want dialogue because they’re not good at it.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) October 30, 2022
6.
Kyrie appoints himself a voice of the voiceless then takes offense and deflects and runs whenever asked to elaborate on his commentary. Dude is a joke. A clown. And hasn't done a damn thing noteworthy on the court since 2016. Just a QAnon Monta Ellis at this point
—
America Is Musty
(@DragonflyJonez) October 30, 2022
7.
Kyrie refuses to answer questions about posting anti-Semitic material. as reporters, people who are guilty try to attack us for asking legitimate questions. good job standing tall @NickFriedell. https://t.co/bSk2VGP9IB
— Jesse Washington (@jessewashington) October 30, 2022
8.
Kyrie Irving: "I'm not going to stand down anything that I believe in. I'm only gonna get stronger because I'm not alone. I have a whole army around me while we're on the topic of promotion." #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) October 30, 2022
9.
Something has to give.
This can’t stand.
The NBA and the Nets can’t have a shitheel like Kyrie Irving belligerently defending the posting of virulent antisemitism without consequence. https://t.co/0mewlNFb9L
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) October 30, 2022
10.
Kyrie Irving yells "change your life, bro" after @NickFriedell pushes him on the antisemitic rhetoric in the movie. Says "I wish we cared more about Black reproductive rights and all the things that actually matter than what I'm posting."
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) October 30, 2022
11.
Of course Kyrie is not prepared to defend his tweets or prepared to be responsible for his influence and profile.
— Kojo Ebro Odogwu (@oldmanebro) October 30, 2022
12.
Somebody really needed to sit down Kyrie & give him some books. Not the self-published kind sold on the corner. Actual books that were originally printed in hard back copies. He’s always talking about what he finds on YouTube or a Google search, when he needed to visit a library.
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) October 30, 2022
13.
Nick Friedell waved off everybody like prime Melo and said I'm going viral tonight.
— Ahmed/The Ears/Nets Fan
(@big_business_) October 30, 2022
The post Free Thinker Kyrie Irving Stands By Suspect Tweet, Not Going To “Stand Down” appeared first on The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media | Hip-Hop Wired.