Many people are irate over the Kyrie Irving suspension as topics like “#IStandWithKyrie,” “Free Kyrie” and “#BoycottTheNBA” all trended on Twitter Friday afternoon as users flooded the platform to defend the Brooklyn Nets guard a day after he was suspended at least five games for promoting an antisemitic film, which he apologized for Thursday night after going days without admitting wrongdoing.
Updates
More than 14,000 tweets mentioning #IStandWithKyrie had emerged by Friday evening, along with more than 7,600 saying “Free Kyrie.”
Former NFL wide receiver Cole Beasley was also a trending sports topic, as many users criticized him for his own tweet defending Irving: “Won’t miss this part of professional sports. ‘Be you’ they say. Yea alright…”
The Nets announced Thursday night Irving would be suspended without pay for no less than five games after promoting an antisemitic film in a tweet last week, stating his days-long failure to apologize constituted “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Irving issued an apology on Instagram shortly after his suspension, but Nets general manager Sean Marks said Friday that Irving will also have to meet with Jewish leaders and counselors before he can be reinstated.
BACKGROUND
Bizarre, antisemitic social media posts recently from Irving and rapper Kanye West have worried Jewish leaders and civil rights groups who feel it might encourage others to make similar remarks, or even resort to violence. Threats have been reported in recent days against synagogues in New Jersey and Alabama, while New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said Friday the city will ramp up police protection at synagogues this weekend. West’s antisemitic comments and conspiracy theories have essentially destroyed his business empire, after several major brands, including Adidas, cut ties with him in recent weeks. The rapper has largely doubled down on his views, though. Twitter quickly removed a profane, antisemitic post from West on Friday afternoon.
Never let these White Supremacist and The Butter Biscuit Brigade make you think FBA don’t have any power. Let bring those ticket sales and TV rating down.#BoycottTheNBA pic.twitter.com/qi0nYM61K2
— F.B.A Soulja (@FBASoulja1) November 4, 2022
This is real sh*t, fam!
The more we allow this bs, the more things stay the same!
The more we side with ppl like, Barkley & Shaq, the more things stay the same!
I play more ball than a lot of brothers, but I am soo ready to drop them over Kyrie!😡#IStandWithKyrie#BoycotttheNBA pic.twitter.com/KTHbiHSmtz— 𝓒𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓕𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓪 🏴🇲🇽 (@DFiosa) November 4, 2022
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