Kyrie Irving refuses to apologize for releasing anti-Semitic film, despite commissioner Adam Silver’s wishes

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving for a minimum of five games without pay on Thursday night. Hours later, Irving issued an apology on Instagram. Articles by CBS Sports NBA writer Brad Botkin and CBS Sports columnist Bill Reiter were filed early Friday morning. This story reflects the actions and statements that were made by Irving and others between Oct. 27 and Thursday afternoon.]

NEW YORK — Less than 40 minutes after the NBA released a statement from Commissioner Adam Silver expressing his disappointment that Kyrie Irving did not apologize for releasing a film full of “deeply offensive anti-Semitic material” and “despicable and harmful content”, the brooklyn nets guard again refused to say he was sorry.

Irving posted the link to “Hebrews To Negroes: Wake Up Black America” ​​last Thursday. A week later, when asked if he was sorry for the hurt his post had caused people, he replied: “I take my responsibility for posting this. Some things that were questionable in there Like I said the first time when you guys asked me when I was sitting on that stage I don’t believe everything everyone posts It’s a documentary so I take my responsibility .

The follow-up question, in light of the NBA press release: Was his joint statement with the Nets and the Anti-Defamation League meant to constitute an apology, or is he not apologizing?

“I meant no harm,” Irving said. “It was not me who made a documentary.”

When asked directly if he held anti-Semitic beliefs, Irving said, “Again, I’m going to say again that I don’t know how the label becomes justified because you ask me the same questions over and over again. But this isn’t going to turn into a cycle of rotating, question after question. I told you how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That’s where I am sitting.

Pressed for a yes or no answer, Irving said, “I can’t be anti-Semitic if I know where I’m from.” Asked to elaborate, he repeated: “I can’t be an anti-Semite if I know where I come from.”

Irving did not respond directly whether or not he was surprised that people were hurt by his social media posts. “I think I can ask a better question,” he said. “Where were you when I was a kid realizing that 300 million of my ancestors were buried in America? Where were you asking those same questions when I was a kid learning about the traumatic events of my family history? And what I’m proud to be from.”

Later in the same response, Irving said, “I’m not here to compare anyone’s atrocities. Or tragic events that their families have faced for generations. I’m just here to continue exposing things our world keeps putting in the dark I am a light I am a beacon of light That’s what I’m here to do You ask me about basketball I give you my expert opinion. You ask me about other things, I give you my opinion and that means what you think is perception or deception.”

Irving, who had not spoken to reporters since get into a spat with one after a game against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 29, said he was “here to answer questions about whether or not I’m sorry for something that I didn’t create, and that’s something I shared , and I tell everyone that I ‘I take my responsibilities.

The film Irving posted is full of anti-Semitic tropes, including a fake quote stating, “Jews have established five major lies that work to conceal their nature and protect their status and power,” including “That 6 million people were killed in a holocaust during World War II.”

“These lies are unfortunate,” Irving said. “And it’s not that I don’t believe in the Holocaust. I never said that. I never, never said it. It didn’t come out of my mouth. I didn’t say it. never tweeted. Never liked anything like it. The Holocaust itself is an event that means something to a large group of people who suffered something that could have been prevented.”

Irving did not fully denounce the film, which he said “may contain unfortunate lies”. When asked what he specifically didn’t believe in the film, he replied, “I think some of the criticism of the Jewish faith and the community, of course. Some points in there were unfortunate.”

Prior to the release of the joint statement, the New York Daily News‘ reported Stefan Bondy that Irving had sent his father and stepmother/agent to meet with the Anti-Defamation League. When asked if he had personally met with the ADL, Irving said, “I was informed that they wanted to have a meeting, and we handled it.”

A Nets staffer then broke up the media scrum and Irving walked away, ignoring a reporter asking for clarification.