Nike suspends relationship with Kyrie Irving, cancels Kyrie 8 launch - The Washington Post

“We are profoundly saddened and disappointed by the concern and its interaction connected everyone,” Nike said.

The rebuke from Nike comes a time aft the Brooklyn Nets suspended Irving for astatine slightest 5 games without pay, saying helium was “currently unfit to beryllium associated” with the enactment aft helium shared an antisemitic film, “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America,” connected societal media. The Nets said Irving would beryllium suspended “until helium satisfies a bid of nonsubjective remedial measures that code the harmful interaction of his conduct.”

“We were dismayed today, erstwhile fixed an accidental successful a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally accidental helium has nary antisemitic beliefs, nor admit circumstantial hateful worldly successful the film,” the Nets said successful a connection Thursday pursuing Irving’s quality astatine a quality conference. “This was not the archetypal clip helium had the accidental — but failed — to clarify.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, main enforcement of the Anti-Defamation League, described the quality league arsenic a “debacle,” adding that the ADL could not “in bully conscience” judge the $500,000 Irving had agreed to donate toward anti-hate causes the time before.

Irving had for days refused to admit oregon apologize for the antisemitism before penning connected Instagram precocious Thursday that helium “posted a Documentary that contained immoderate mendacious anti-Semitic statements, narratives, and connection that were untrue and violative to the Jewish Race/Religion.”

He said helium took “full accountability and responsibly for my actions,” adding: “To All Jewish families and Communities that are wounded and affected from my post, I americium profoundly atrocious to person caused you pain, and I apologize.” He said helium “initially reacted retired of emotion to being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, alternatively of focusing connected the healing process of my Jewish Brothers and Sisters that were wounded from the hateful remarks made successful the Documentary.”

Irving has a past of controversy. He was outspoken astir his refusal to get a coronavirus vaccine and astir New York City’s vaccine mandate. The tiff led the Nets to banish Irving for much than 2 months past season. Irving said astatine the clip that it was “not a governmental happening here” but “about my beingness and what I’m choosing to do.”

Irving’s suspension by the Nets and fallout with Nike comes aft Adidas chopped ties with Ye, the creator formerly known arsenic Kanye West, aft helium repeatedly made antisemitic comments connected societal media. Experts person warned of increasingly brazen antisemitism astatine a clip erstwhile incidents of harassment, vandalism and unit directed astatine Jews person been astatine their highest levels successful decades.

Ben Golliver contributed to this report.