Nike has ended its eight-year commercial relationship with professional basketball star Kyrie Irving. Links to anti-Semitic films on social media.
Nike move comes in a month The athletic apparel giant put its relationship on hold with Irving on a tweet he shared in October. In his one-line statement to CBS News on Monday, Nike said, “Kylie Irving is no longer an athlete.”
Irving’s agent Shetheria Riley Irving told CBS Moneywatch, “Nike and Kylie have mutually decided to break up.”
Irving’s shoe deal with Nike was one of the NBA’s most lucrative deals, earning him about $11 million annually. reportIrving signed his first Nike shoe deal in 2014 and was due to release a new model, the Kyrie 8, last month.
“We wish Nike all the best in their future endeavors,” Riley Irving said in a statement Monday.
Nike separated from Irving officials on Monday, but there were earlier signs that the relationship was fraying.
“Kyrie crossed the line. It’s very simple,” said Nike founder Phil Knight. Said CNBC last month. “He made some statements that we couldn’t abide by. That’s why we ended the relationship. And I was fine with that.”
A day after announcing their separation, Nike cut the price of Irving’s signature shoes, offering up to 50% on some models.
Irving posted a tweet on Monday, suggesting he was relieved to be released from his contract with Nike, which was due to end in October 2023.
“For anyone who’s even spent their hard earned money on anything I’ve ever released, I consider you family and we are forever connected,” he said. posted. “It’s time to show how strong we are as a community.”
The controversy began on October 27, when Irving posted a link to the movie “From Hebrews to Blacks: Wake Up Black America” on Twitter.Synopsis on Amazon He said the 2018 film would “discover the identity of the children of Israel”. I am referring to
The next day, Nets owner Joe Tsai wrote on twitter NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also condemned Irving’s tweet.
The team gave Irving a five-game suspension following his post. It was the second season in a row that the Nets kicked Irving off the team. Last year, the Nets expelled Irving for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, disqualifying him from playing home games.
Irving apologized for tweeting about the documentary on his Instagram following his recent suspension.
“To all Jewish families and communities who have been hurt and affected by my posts, I deeply apologize and apologize for the pain I have caused you,” he wrote. Instead of focusing on the healing process of our Jewish brothers and sisters who were hurt by the hateful remarks made on .
Celebrities and Jewish groups urged Amazon and Barnes & Noble to remove the film from the platformbut Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said last week The e-commerce company has no plans to withdraw it.
Despite severing ties with Irving, Nike continues to sign numerous deals with NBA players. The company has shoe deals with some of the league’s biggest names, including Paul George, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
