Rolling Stone initially reported that Kyrie Irving has provided some clarification regarding his actions in a recent interview with SNY. This interview took place in the aftermath of the controversy that ensued after he promoted a movie that contained antisemitic themes, directing his 4.5 million Twitter followers to watch Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America.

On November 3rd, the Nets placed him on suspension following his involvement in two press conferences where he failed to “clearly” express regret or renounce the anti-Semitic material in the movie. Subsequently, Irving posted an apology on Instagram. Nevertheless, just five days prior, he delivered a non-apology, asserting that he never intended any offense — and he also did not formally apologize during that period.

A series of remedial measures, including the suspension conditions, were implemented to address the harmful impact of his conduct. Tsai Wu Clara, Joe governors of the Nets, and Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, have met with members of the Jewish community. He has also had time to reflect, as he told SNY, and is expected to return to the court on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies after being suspended for nearly two weeks as a point guard.

Irving informed SNY that he desires to concentrate on the harm he inflicted or the influence he had within the Jewish community, regarding the inclusion of a threat, whether real or assumed. Since the initial publication of the post, I have had ample time to reflect, and I sincerely apologize for all my behaviors. If given the opportunity to redo it, my primary objective would be to mend and restore numerous relationships with my Jewish relatives, both brothers and sisters.

He mentioned that he initially refrained from apologizing during the press conferences because he responded defensively.

He expressed, “I did not intend to be disrespectful or antisemitic; I simply felt hurt and defensive when I thought I was being labeled as such, or that I could be labeled as such. My reaction was purely to protect my character and felt like I was defending myself.”

At the forefront, it is crucial that we prioritize showering one another with affection and ensuring equal opportunities for all. I want to clarify that I am not against the Jewish community or harboring any anti-Semitic sentiments. The appropriate response should have been, “No, I am not anti-Jewish. No, I am not antisemitic.” This would have made it clear to the public that my stance is a straightforward “no” rather than leaving room for misinterpretation.

I felt completely wronged in that moment because it didn’t matter to me that some of them are not Jewish, and it didn’t matter to me that some of them are Jewish – they’re all my friends and relatives. I will continue to try to understand them on a deeper level, and I made that statement referring back to my childhood. I was just wondering how I ended up where I am now, if I know where I came from. I realized I could be seen as antisemitic, and I was really starting to understand the gravity of it all. I apologize for how wrong I was and I take full responsibility for my actions. The initial conversation wasn’t going in the right direction, but I want to make amends.