Nike part ways with NBA star Kyrie Irving after controversial Twitter posts
American Kyrie Irving, star of the Brooklyn Nets, during the All-Star, February 16, 2019 in Charlotte.
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Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The Nike brand is parting ways with NBA star Kyrie Irving.
In October, the leader of the Brooklyn Nets shared an anti-Semitic film on Twitter.
At first, the basketball player had refused to apologize.
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The film shared at the end of October by Kyrie Irving to its 4.7 million subscribers is full of anti-Semitic stereotypes.
He goes so far as to deny the Holocaust and broadcast quotes from Adolf Hitler, reports our correspondent in Miami,
David Thomson
.
After posting this link on Twitter, the leader of the Brooklyn Nets had been sanctioned by his club: eight match suspension without pay.
His team ended up allowing his return but imposing a public apology on him to the Jewish community.
“
There is nothing more precious than being free
”
But for his sponsor Nike, no return possible with this basketball player elected seven times
NBA-All Star Game
[each player selected at least once in the
NBA All-Star Game
match receives the qualifier of All-Star Editor's note]
,
and who had won an NBA title in 2016. The equipment supplier breaks its contract with this 30-year-old athlete born in Australia.
"
Kyrie Irving is no longer a Nike athlete
", repeat the brand's communication services on all American media.
Kyrie Irving opened up about his split from Nike on Twitter, saying "
Anyone who spent their hard-earned money on one of my products, I consider you family and we are forever bonded
."
He also shared a gif which reads: “
There is nothing more precious than being free
”.
Anyone who has even spent their hard earned money on anything I have ever released, I consider you FAMILY and we are forever connected.
it's time to show how powerful we are as a community.
🤞🏾♾
— Hela (@KyrieIrving) December 5, 2022
A decision announced in the wake of
another anti-Semitic scandal
in the United States: that triggered by rapper Kanye West, expelled from Twitter for having shared a swastika and having delivered an apology for Adolphe Hilter on a conspiracy site , and this just after being invited to dinner by former President of the United States Donald Trump, in his private residence in Florida.
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