Previously, the Brooklyn Nets star believed he didn’t owe anyone an apology despite facing backlash for promoting an anti-Semitic movie titled ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’.
AceShowbiz –Kyrie Irving is taking full responsibility after hurting the Jewish community with his controversial social media post. The NBA player is donating $500,000 to help “eradicate hate” toward the community.
On Wednesday, November 2, the Brooklyn Nets star and his team announced that they will each donate $500,000 “toward causes and organizations that work to eradicate hate and intolerance in our communities.”
The statement, issued on the official NBA website, also claimed Kyrie will “work with ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), a nonprofit organization devoted to fighting antisemitism and all types of hate that undermine justice and fair treatment for every individual.”
In a personal statement along with the announcement, Kyrie said he opposes “all forms of hatred and oppression and [stands] strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day.” The 30-year-old basketball pro continued, “I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility.”
“I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen,” Kyrie went on saying. “So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light.”
Kyrie came under fire after tweeting a link to the “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” documentary, a movie that is said to promote anti-Semitism, on October 27 via Twitter. Among those who condemned his post was Nets owner Joe Tsai.
“I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation,” Joe 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.”
Then on October 29, Kyrie defended himself after Joe and the NBA called him out. “Out of all the judgment that people got out of me posting, without talking to me, I respect what Joe said, but there has a lot to do with not ego or pride with how proud I am be African heritage but also to be living as a free black man here in America knowing the historical complexities for me to get here,” he said.
“So I’m not going to stand down on anything I believe in,” the professional basketball player further stressed. “I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.”
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