SPORTS
‘Free Kyrie’ And ‘BoycottTheNBA’ Trend After Nets Star Suspended For Promoting Antisemitism
Terms like “#IStandWithKyrie,” “Free Kyrie” and “#BoycottTheNBA” trended on Twitter’s sports section Friday afternoon as users flooded the platform to defend Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving 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.
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 Irving will also have to meet with Jewish leaders and counselors before he can be reinstated.
SURPRISING FACT
The terms trended under Twitter’s “sports” tab and appeared in the “for you” section for many users but they did not appear on Twitter’s list of the top 30 trends in the U.S., despite involving more tweets than many top terms on the trending list. Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to why.
KEY 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.
FURTHER READING
Twitter Removes Kanye’s Tweet After He Drops N-Word—And Musk Claims Platform Rules Unchanged (Forbes)
Nets Suspend Kyrie Irving For Pushing Antisemitic Film (Forbes)
New York City Ups Synagogue Security After N.J. Threat On Heels Of Kanye West, Kyrie Irving Antisemitic Rhetoric (Forbes)
Kyrie Irving Antisemitism Controversy: Everything Irving Did That Landed Him A Suspension (Forbes)
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