NEW YORK — As Nets star Kyrie Irving rejoined the team on Sunday night, fans voiced mixed views of his eight-game suspension over his recent controversial social media posts.
“He made a big mistake,” said Obi Dimoriaku, 22. “I feel he just didn’t do enough [research] on the documentary and he didn’t know what he was posting.”
Irving was allowed to take the court against the Memphis Grizzlies after apologizing for posting a link to the antisemitic 2018 movie “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America” on both Twitter and Instagram on Oct. 27. That led to his suspension starting Nov. 3.
“I just want to offer my deep apologies to all those who are impacted over these last few weeks, specifically my Jewish relatives, my Black relatives — you know, all races and cultures,” the point guard said Sunday morning.
“I don’t stand for anything close to hate speech, or antisemitism, or anything that is anti-going against the human race,” he added.
Plenty of fans voiced their support of him.
“The NBA was excessive with suspending Irving. All Irving tweeted was a link to the documentary,” said a man who gave his name as Eythan. They need to ask the content creator about the antisemitic themes in the film.”
Shortly before tipoff, Noah Soto Vega of the Bronx said, “I feel like they tried to cancel him for a tweet.
“The NBA didn’t really get his side of the story,” he continued. “There should be a separation — what he tweeted has nothing to do with basketball — it’s separate. You’re stopping a man from making his bread for tweeting a link to a video that’s a whole another monster in itself.”
Alberto Cruz, 45, wasn’t particularly interested in Irving or the scene outside the arena.
“I don’t I believe in hate, but whatever time he got, that’s what he got,” said Cruz, of Sunset Park. “I’m not one say to say he deserves more or less. I just don’t agree with hate towards anyone.”
Dimoriaku said he thought a double standard had been applied against Irving.
“Well, he’s a Black man, so I feel the NBA definitely used him as an example,” he remarked.
“But the punishment was excessive,” Dimoriaku continued. “I just think he was coming from a place of ignorance and ... we all make mistakes.”
