BROOKLYN — A group of yeshiva students sat courtside at Monday’s Nets basketball game wearing pro-Jewish t-shirts, just a few feet from Kyrie Irving who recently posted antisemitic comments on social media.
Mike Dube was among group of fans wearing ‘Fight Antisemitism’ shirts courtside at BKN-IND game. Dube told SNY that Kyrie Irving greeted group during a timeout, saying that he appreciated them. By wearing shirt, Dube said he hoped to be a ‘positive light’. pic.twitter.com/BmVgzee5pv
— Frum TikTok (@FrumTikTok) November 1, 2022
While attending the game at the Barclays Center, the kids wore shirts which said “fight antisemitism.” Irving recently shared a link to an anti-Jewish movie titled “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” – filled with antisemitic disinformation.
He was criticized by Nets owner Joe Tsai and by the ADL, and drew heckling from some fans.
Kyrie went over to them and said “grateful for you guys”
— Ethan Schorr (@EthanSchorr) November 1, 2022
According to a tweet from Nets fan Ethan Schorr who was seated nearby, Irving went over to the yeshiva students and said “grateful for you guys.”
When Kyrie refused to accept responsibility for elevating hatred of Jews, he said something truly scary and dangerous:
“I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone. I have a whole army around me.”
new for @andscape:https://t.co/rOPDOT0pLB
— Jesse Washington (@jessewashington) October 31, 2022
According to reports, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt spoke directly with Tsai and the NBA, and engaged indirectly with Irving as well through a representative, in response to the controversial post.
“At a time when anti-Jewish incidents have reached historic levels, this situation has caused real pain in the Jewish community. Whether or not it was intentional, Kyrie lifted up a hateful film to his millions of followers,” the ADL spokesperson told The NY Post. “We hope a process of constructive dialogue and mutual healing will follow.
“We also deeply appreciate the efforts of Joe Tsai, (BSE CEO) Sam Zussman, Sean Marks, and the entire Brooklyn Nets organization in listening to our concerns and working with ADL on this matter. More than ever, we are committed to working with the Nets to make sure that Brooklyn and the NBA is no place for hate.”
As reported by VINnews