The Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie Irving indefinitely last week following the controversy around his promotion of an antisemitic film and the subsequent lack of apology offered (until after). At the time it was unclear exactly when Irving might be able to return to the team. Friday, owner Joe Tsai implied that it could be pretty soon.
Tsai took to Twitter on Friday to say that he and his wife Clara had met with Irving on Thursday and that he was convinced that the Nets star was not antisemitic.
“Clara and I met with Kyrie and his family yesterday,” wrote Tsai. “We spent quality time to understand each other and it’s clear to me that Kyrie does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group.”
However, in a follow-up tweet, Tsai stopped short of saying Kyrie’s suspension had been lifted.
“The Nets and Kyrie, together with the NBA and NBPA, are working constructively toward a process of forgiveness, healing, and education,” he wrote.
That’s a stark contrast from an earlier report that the Tsais considered cutting Irving after watching the movie that he had promoted on his social media accounts.
While we wait to see when Irving might be reinstated to play for the Nets, there were certainly some strong reactions to Tsai’s comments and the way the situation has evolved.
It’s almost like conversations with people we disagree with makes us realize we’re more alike than we thought? Twitter’s echo chamber hates dialogue like this https://t.co/YbcX5iMVQE
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) November 11, 2022
it’s weird when someone with a rooted financial stake makes themself a defacto arbitrator on what constitutes antisemitism https://t.co/Md7i6rF8JX
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) November 11, 2022
[Joe Tsai]