Kyrie Irving Promotes Antisemitic Film, Gets Backlash From NBA Fans and Jewish Groups

Kyrie Irving has recently promoted an antisemitic movie but refused to say sorry despite criticism from his team, the NBA, and the Anti-Defamation League, among others.

The movie that the Brooklyn Nets' star tweeted about last week reportedly drew on fabricated quotes that have been the center of antisemitic propaganda for decades, Sports Illustrated reported.

According to Rolling Stone, the 2018 film, "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," which was based on a 2015 book of the same name, claims that Jews control the media and the banking industry, are responsible for the creation of slavery, and created anti-Black racism.

According to a screenshot shared by Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post on Twitter, the movie also accuses Jews of generating "falsehoods" to "protect their status and power."

Irving posted a link to this movie along with these claims, left it up for days, ignored all criticism, portrayed himself as the victim, fought back against reporters who asked for an explanation, and ended his media appearance on Saturday night.

However, the NBA star did say that he had seen the movie before tweeting the link, forfeiting any benefit of the doubt that perhaps he promoted the film without knowing its contents.

Irving tweeted last week that he was an omnist, who is an individual who believes in all religions. He said any accusations of antisemitism were "not justified" and did not reflect "the reality or truth" he lives in.

In his short press conference on Saturday, Irving noted that he talked to "all races, all cultures, all religions," and accepted "all walks of life."

Fans Blasted Kyrie Irving by Wearing 'Fight Antisemitism' Shirts During Brooklyn Nets Game

Days after Kyrie Irving tweeted a link to an antisemitic movie, some fans wearing "Fight Antisemitism" shirts were seen sitting at courtside seats of the Brooklyn-Indiana game on Monday night.

Market Watch reported that the Brooklyn Nets guard posted the link to the film last Thursday. The movie "uncovers the true identity of the Children of Israel," according to the Amazon summary.

Following a significant backlash that included criticism from Nets owner Joe Tsai and the Anti-Defamation League and a statement from the NBA condemning all types of hate speech, Kyrie Irving deleted his tweet with the film's link on Sunday.

Jewish Groups Slams Kyrie Irving Over His Tweet

In a statement released to Newsweek, Liora Rez, the organization's executive director, said: "Someone with Irving's fame needs to make a more concentrated effort to not spread MORE hatred directed at the Jewish community. StopAntisemitism applauds the Nets, and the NBA for taking a stand against Jew-hatred and hope that Irving can be educated to understand why posting this film is dangerous."

Rez added that the film is filled with antisemitic tropes that can be quickly dispelled, and they want to know why Google and Amazon did not pull the revisionist history meant to hurt Jews years ago. Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said Irving's tweets are troubling.

He said the book and film that the NBA star promotes "trade in deeply antisemitic themes," which include those "promoted by dangerous sects of the Black Hebrew Israelites movement." Greenblatt noted that Kyrie Irving "should clarify now."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Brooklyn Nets Owner Condemns Irving Promoting Antisemitic Movie - From CBS New York