Kyrie Irving was targetted by four rabbis who sat courtside during Monday’s game between the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks. They aimed pro-Jewish signs at Irving and the Utah Jazz even released a statement addressing an incident.
Kyrie Irving was involved in anti-Semitic controversy
Irving was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets last year when he shared a link to a documentary that was widely considered to be anti-Semitic. The Nets explained that Kyrie’s suspension was due in part to his inability to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film.”
At the time, the Anti-Defamation League rejected Kyrie Irving’s donation of $500,000, and Nike cut its commercial ties with him.
Kyrie Irving later issued an apology by stating he does not “have hate in my heart for the Jewish people or anyone that identifies as a Jew.”
There had been signs that read, “I’m a Jew and I’m proud.”
We may have brought four Rabbis to sit courtside tonight… pic.twitter.com/mRzPPUoOZf
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) January 2, 2024
Fans were told to take down the signs
“During an out-of-bounds play in the first quarter of yesterday’s Jazz game against the Dallas Mavericks, there was a group sitting courtside whose signs sparked an interaction with a player that created a distraction and interfered with play of game,” the Jazz said in the statement obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune.
“As the next step in standard security protocol, the fans were asked to take down their signs.”
Rabbi Avremi Zippel, a Salt Lake City resident and Jazz fan, told the newspaper that he wanted to attend the game against the Mavericks because of Irving.
“Some of the things that Kyrie said about the Jewish community and about Holocaust denial were vile and disgusting,” Zippel said.
Zippel shared his response to Utah’s statement, saying the alleged “arena policy” quoted to him was “invented” in that very moment.
He concluded his thread—as seen below—by writing, “Bottom line: there was one person, in a building of 18,000+, that was triggered by sign that says ‘I’m a Jew and I’m proud’. Why that bothers him so, to the point that it sparks an interaction, should be the real question anyone is asking. Sadly, instead of just quietly chalking this up to a misunderstanding and letting this remain a small blip, the Jazz took the side of said triggered player and doubled down. That’s just disappointing to me.”
I think the rules are that if someone else mentions me, I get a chance to respond.
The Jazz released this head-scratching statement about the “I’m a Jew and I’m proud” signs, and I legit don’t know where to begin.
So here’s some thoughts:
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) January 3, 2024
