Joe Tsai condemns Irving for promoting antisemitic film

Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai (left). Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Nets owner Joe Tsai condemns Kyrie Irving for promoting antisemitic film on Twitter

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Jason Burgos | Last updated 10/29/22

Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai is not happy with his star guard Kyrie Irving.

Irving has a well-established history as what might be described as “free thinking.” On Thursday, he added to that unique history when he took time to show support for a documentary film based on a controversial 2015 book. Irving sent out a tweet that seemed to back the Ronald Dalton, Jr. film "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake up Black America."

The tweet is problematic because the film pushes several antisemitic tropes and supports ideas shared by extreme factions of the Black Hebrew Israelites. The group has a long history of homophobia, xenophobia and, of course, antisemitism. Rolling Stone reported all the ways in which the movie is problematic.

That support of the controversial film got the seven-time All-Star in hot water with Tsai.

In a tweet of his own on Friday night, Tsai admitted disappointment in Irving's decision to throw his support behind a film that promotes “hurtful” notions.

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.
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) October 29, 2022

This is bigger than basketball
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) October 29, 2022

The topic of antisemitism has jumped to the forefront of the sports world recently after comments made by hip-hop superstar Ye (formerly Kanye West). Ye has several links to the sports world, and he saw many of those ties cut after his recent controversial social media posts on Jewish Americans.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

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