There has been a ton of controversy surrounding Brooklyn Nets star point guard Kyrie Irving for his promotion of a film that has been heavily criticized for its antisemitism views.
Irving has largely been avoiding the media since this criticism began, and when he did address reporters, it didn’t go very well.
A formal apology still has not come from Kyrie regarding his promotion of the film. However, on Thursday, he was asked whether or not that would come from him eventually.
“I didn’t mean to cause any harm,” said Irving via SNY Nets on Twitter. “I’m not the one who made the documentary.”
While Irving did not issue an apology, he did say that “some of” the criticisms of the Jewish faith in the film did not represent his beliefs.
“I think some of the criticism of the Jewish faith in the community for sure,” said Irving. “Some points made in there that were unfortunate.”
Kyrie Irving says he didn't mean to cause any harm in sharing a post to a film that has been described as anti-Semitic:
"I'm not the one that made the documentary" pic.twitter.com/NkRvZDoqbS
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 3, 2022
He was later given a chance to publicly admonish any rumors that he was antisemitic, being asked flat out whether or not he had any antisemitic beliefs.
Irving instead decided to give a far more cryptic response.
“I can not be antisemitic if I know where I come from,” said Irving.
Kyrie Irving is asked if he has any anti-Semitic beliefs: pic.twitter.com/hHI8FFqMbs
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 3, 2022
These interviews gave Irving several chances to distance himself from rumors that he may be antisemitic, but he instead decided to dance around the answer.
His responses certainly got many around the NBA talking, with many blasting him yet again for this controversial interview.
he projects this tired '10 moves ahead' persona in his crypticness, as if there's some mastermind game in play
the ambiguity here isn't clever or performative in some calculated way that'll become clear later: it's cowardly, it's off-putting, it reeks of all-consuming narcissism https://t.co/cadgJxhyPE
— J. Kyle Mann (@jkylemann) November 3, 2022
Maybe just go with "I'm sorry" https://t.co/8CrmNwRtHJ
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) November 3, 2022
Had a layup and airballed it https://t.co/1quG2MuXlZ
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) November 3, 2022
this is a man who has repeatedly lashed out at the media for trying to "spin" things or "label him," and yet given the chance to cleanly answer a very easy yes or no question, he chooses not to do it https://t.co/2oxtw3HCgO
— Bobby Wagner (@bwags) November 3, 2022
man if you think the question is unfair you say no then turn it on them, but you gotta start the response to a point-blank "do you have any anti-semitic beliefs" with a "no" https://t.co/88hCWM0exu
— Nathan Bernhardt (@jonbernhardt) November 3, 2022
If you can't answer that with a yes or no there's your answer. https://t.co/dkjjVKl2xD
— Dan "Informed Booer" King (@Kinger_DC) November 3, 2022
Considering his answer to these questions, it doesn’t look like this controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving will be going away anytime soon.
