Kyrie Irving, Nets donate $500K each to anti-hate causes

Irving hasn't talked to the media since Saturday, but his prepared statement was apologetic, if not exactly an apology. The statement read, via ESPN's Nick Friedell:

"I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day. I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light."

Irving shared an Amazon link on social media, for a movie called "Heroes to Negroes: Wake Up Black America." The film contains many 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.

After sparring with Friedell in his postgame presser Saturday night, Irving has perhaps softened his attitude about his responsibilities when posting on social media. Or, he's decided to attempt to buy his way out of controversy and be a beacon of truth and light. It's not clear exactly which causes the million dollars will go to, beyond "causes and organizations that seek to eradicate hate and intolerance."

While his posting and some theories about the roundness of the earth are pretty wild, Irving has been quite charitable in the past. During the pandemic, he donated $323K to Feeding America, an organization that provides meals to vulnerable people. He gave more than $100K to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in 2018, then donated 17 pallets of food and 3,000 N95 masks in 2020. Also in 2020, Irving donated $1.5 million to cover the salaries of WNBA players who opted out of playing during the pandemic.

The money might not make up for the controversy, but it's certainly a big improvement from sharing antisemitic content and not donating half a million dollars.