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Kevin Durant comments on Kyrie Irving's antisemitism controversy
With Kyrie Irving now suspended for " no less than five games ," his co-star Kevin Durant spoke with the media on Friday about the controversy that's been surrounding his teammate.
Kevin Durant: “I’m not here to judge somebody or talk down on the life or how they feel their views. I just didn't like anything that went on. I felt like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organization.” #nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) November 4, 2022
KD: "This is the way the #NBA is now, media, so many outlets now and their stories hit pretty fast now. So that's where all the chaos is coming from. Everybody has an opinion on the situation, and we're hearing it nonstop." #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) November 4, 2022
Shortly after, "KD" posted on his Twitter account to clarify what he meant with his original Friday morning comments.
Kevin Durant clarifying what he said at this morning's shootaround. #Nets #NBA https://t.co/5tbH2hDoG6
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) November 4, 2022
Last week, Irving shared an Amazon link on social media for a movie called "Heroes to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," a film that contains a host of antisemitic tropes and falsehoods about Jewish people, including the existence of "Jewish slave ships" and a claim that "many famous high-ranking Jews" worship Satan. The film also contains a fake quote from "Adolph" Hitler.
Following days of immense criticism over his decision to post the link, the Nets and Irving both donated $500,000 to anti-hate causes on Wednesday, to go along with the seven-time All-Star's statement. This came after Irving's father and stepmother reportedly met with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
NBA commissioner Adam Silver released a statement on the matter on Thursday, and when faced with questions on if he had any antisemitic beliefs, Irving gave a bizarre response. Brooklyn decided to hand down the suspension to the former Rookie of the Year on Thursday night.
Following Irving's odd answers to media questions on Thursday, the ADL said that they wouldn't be accepting his donation. After the suspension was announced, Irving eventually posted an apology to his Instagram account.
More must-reads:
- Watch: Kyrie Irving gives bizarre answer to media questions on antisemitism
- Nets suspend Kyrie Irving without pay for 'no less than five games' after refusing to deny antisemitic beliefs
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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