New York ¨C Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving said on Saturday that he was ¡°deeply¡± apologetic after his team suspended him earlier this month for sharing anti-Semitic content on social media and not disavowing anti-Semitism.
Irving was listed as ¡°questionable¡± for Sunday¡¯s game at home against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Nets have kept him off the court for the last eight games after he ¡°refused to unequivocally say he has no anti-Semitic beliefs.¡±
He told local sports network SNY on Saturday that he was not anti-Semitic and wanted to ¡°set a greater example.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have hate in my heart for the Jewish people or anyone that identifies as a Jew,¡± he said. ¡°The difficult aspect is just processing all this, understanding the power of my voice, the influence I have. I am no one¡¯s idol, but I am a human being that wants to make (an) impact and change.¡±
Irving faced heavy criticism after posting a link on Twitter last month to an anti-Semitic 2018 documentary and defending it. He later said it contained ¡°false anti-Semitic statements¡± and apologized ¡°for posting the documentary without context.¡±
Nike Inc suspended its relationship with Irving in the aftermath and canceled the release of its next Irving-branded shoe.
The interview on Saturday marked the most direct apology the seven-time National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star has offered since he was handed his suspension on Nov. 3.
¡°I really want to focus on the hurt that I caused,¡± said Irving. ¡°I just want to apologize deeply for all my actions throughout the time that it¡¯s been since the post was first put up. I¡¯ve had a lot of time to think.¡±
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