Kyrie Irving has been the topic of every sports headline lately. Irving recently issued an apology after claims that a documentary he promoted was antisemitic. The Brooklyn Nets player used his social media to promote Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America. The film is based on a book that suggests that “many famous high-ranking Jews” have “admitted” to “worship[ing] Satan or Lucifer,” according to Rolling Stone.
Many NBA executives and players have shared their opinion about Irving and his stance. Blavity previously reported that Nets owner Joe Tsai condemned Irving for promoting the film. The owner tweeted, “I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-Semitic disinformation. 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.”
According to People, LeBron James expressed his disappointment in his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate. In a postgame press conference, James stated, “I believe what Kyrie did cause some harm to a lot of people,” Sportskeeda reports.
“It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, how tall you are, what position you’re in. If you are promoting or soliciting or saying harmful things to any community that harms people, then I don’t respect it,” James said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I don’t condone it.”
Although many are choosing to separate themselves from Irving and his views, Nick Cannon has stepped up as a supporter.
The television executive posted a clip of him speaking on the topic with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL (Anti-Defamation League).
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Cannon invited followers to provide their views on the topic, “THE CONVERSATION EVERYONE IS AFRAID TO HAVE… Comment Below.”
The clip is from an unreleased 2 Hate or Not 2 Hate podcast episode.
In the clip, Cannon raised his hand with a full declaration, stating, “I can wholeheartedly say I know Kyrie Irving is not antisemitic.”
Greenblatt rebutted, stating that when Irving was given the chance to say he wasn’t antisemitic, he didn’t.
The two discussed the ideologies in the documentary and how they were “dehumanizing” to the Jewish community.
Cannon provided the perspective of how Irving was forced into the same “dehumanizing” experience because of his views.
The father of 10 compared the immense pressure and speculation about the situation to “buck breaking.”
Buck breaking was a form of sexual abuse torture that enslaved African men were put through by white slave owners, according to Vocal Africa.
Slave owners would sodomize and rape rebellious slaves to humiliate them, usually in front of their children and wives, the outlet reports. Thus “breaking” their spirit.
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Cannon knows firsthand about receiving backlash following antisemitic comments.
In 2020, Cannon was fired from his television show, Wild ‘N Out, after comments he made on his podcast, Cannon’s Class.
According to NPR, in the since-deleted episode, Cannon stated that Jews were responsible “for the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe.”
