Nike SUSPENDS its partnership with Kyrie Irving and cancels Kyrie 8 shoe

Nike has suspended its relationship with Kyrie Irving after a week where the Brooklyn Nets star was embroiled in an anti-Semitism row.

It also said it will not launch the Kyrie 8s later this month – the shoe designed by the player and company. 

A Nike statement said: ‘We believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism. 

‘To that end, we’ve made the decision to suspend out relationship with Kyrie Irving and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8. 

‘We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone.’

Irving was suspended by the team Thursday night ‘until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct,’ as he refused to answer whether he held any anti-Semitic beliefs following the sharing of an anti-Semitic film on his Twitter account.

Nike has suspended its relationship with Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets

Irving finally apologized for his actions Thursday – after the Nets suspended him from the team

Irving posted a link to the Amazon page for the 2018 film ‘Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America’ last week and quickly found himself in hot water due to the film’s anti-Semitic tropes.  

Among other damaging ideas, it claims ‘many famous high-ranking Jews have admitted to worshipping Satan or Lucifer.’

The film was based on a 2015 book by the same name.

Irving initially resisted the idea that he could be sharing anti-Semitic ideas, saying Thursday he could not be anti-Semitic ‘because he knows where he comes from.’

Irving issued an apology later that night – after the Nets had suspended him – saying he was ‘deeply sorry’ for his actions.

Nets general manager Sean Marks called the apology a ‘step in the right direction’ but ‘certainly not enough, and the Nets statement announcing Irving’s suspension was highly critical of the star.

‘We have decided that Kyrie will serve a suspension without pay until he satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct and the suspension period served is no less than five games,’ the Nets statement read in part.

Irving has been suspended by his team, the Nets, for at least five games due to the scandal 

Nike will now no longer release the Kyrie 8 shoe that was scheduled for later in November

‘We were dismayed today, when given an opportunity in a media session, that Kyrie refused to unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify.

‘Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team. Accordingly, we are of the view that he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.’

It took Irving a while to arrive at the point of a full, unqualified apology.

Last Saturday, after a loss against the Pacers, Irving said he refused to ‘stand down’ and doubled down on his beliefs.

‘I’m only going to get stronger because I’m not alone,’ Irving said. ‘I have a whole army around me.’

Irving was also quoted in a joint-statement with the Nets and Anti-Defamation League where he took responsibility for his actions, and said he ‘oppose[d] all forms and hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day.’

However, he did not explicitly say he was sorry until Thursday night.