Meyers Leonard had refused to kneel down for the American anthem when he returned from the NBA last summer.
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Mark J. Terrill / AP / SIPA
The Miami Heat announced Tuesday "the sidelining of the team, for an indefinite period", of the pivot Meyers Leonard, after having read a video where we hear the player utter an anti-Semitic insult, for which he has since apologized.
In this video from a Twitch stream (live streaming), which surfaced on social media, Leonard can be heard saying, “Fuck cowards, don't shoot me!
Fuck youpins!
»During an online video game session.
"Not a correct illustration of the person I am"
"The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech," responded the Florida club in a statement.
“The words Meyers Leonard used were inappropriate and we will not tolerate any hateful language from anyone associated with our franchise.
"
pic.twitter.com/f8rLKCkS5i
- Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) March 10, 2021
In the process, the NBA indicated to conduct an investigation, condemning, too, "unequivocally all forms of hate speech".
Leonard apologized in an Instagram post on Tuesday night.
“I am deeply sorry for uttering an anti-Semitic insult yesterday.
I didn't know what that word meant before that, but my ignorance of its offensive nature to the Jewish community is absolutely no excuse and I was simply wrong.
"
“I am committed to reaching out to people who can help me learn about this type of hate speech and how we can fight it.
I recognize and accept my mistake.
This is not a correct illustration of who I am.
I promise to do better, ”he added.
Video game companies ASTRO Gaming, Origin PC and Scuf Gaming said earlier on Tuesday that they had ended their partnerships with the avid gamer Leonard, used to interacting with his fans on Twitch.
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