Nike has parted ways with Kyrie Irving.
The shoe giant announced Friday night that it will halt its relationship with the Brooklyn guard, who has been suspended by the Nets for what the team called a repeated failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs.”
“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech & we condemn any form of antisemitism,” the company said. “To that end, we’ve made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately & will no longer launch the Kyrie 8.”
Irving signed with Nike in 2011, shortly after becoming the No. 1 pick in that year’s NBA draft. Irving’s first signature shoe was released 3 years later & the popularity of the Kyrie line led to him making a reported $11 million annually just from the Nike endorsement.
Nike’s decision came a day after the Nets handed down their suspension, which will last at least 5 games & after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he wanted an apology from Irving over his decision to post a link to the documentary “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” — a film that contains antisemitic material.
Irving defended his right to post what he wants, then refused to give a direct answer when asked Thursday if he has antisemitic beliefs. Later, hours after the Nets issued their suspension, Irving posted an apology on Instagram.
“To All Jewish families & Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain & I apologize,” Irving wrote. “I initially reacted out of emotion to being unjustly labeled Anti-Semitic, instead of focusing on the healing process of my Jewish Brothers & Sisters that were hurt from the hateful remarks made in the Documentary.”
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Source: AP
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