This week Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving was suspended for five games without pay for refusing to deny he was antisemitic [click here if you missed that].
Now Nike has suspended their relationship with Kyrie and halted the release of his new sneakers...
From ESPN
Nike has suspended its relationship with Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving in the wake of the controversy surrounding his social media post about a book and movie containing antisemitic tropes, the company announced Friday night.
Nike also said it will no longer launch Irving's new shoe, the Kyrie 8. The shoe, Irving's eighth with the company, had been slated for a November 8 release.
"At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism," Nike said in a prepared statement. "We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone."
Irving's deal with Nike was initially set to expire on Oct. 1, 2023. His signature line with Nike, which he has had since 2014, is one of Nike's most lucrative current player series in recent years, behind only LeBron James' signature series. Irving's shoes are also among the most-worn across the league.
