Nike splits with Kyrie Irving amid antisemitism fallout

On Friday night, the prominent footwear company announced the termination of its association with the Brooklyn guard, who had been suspended by the Nets for what the team described as a repeated failure to “unequivocally disavow antisemitic beliefs.” The Nets had taken this action on Thursday, and a day later, Nike followed suit with its decision.

Nike, headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, declared, “At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism.” Consequently, the company stated that it has chosen to immediately suspend its partnership with Kyrie Irving and will no longer proceed with the launch of the Kyrie 8, a signature shoe set to be released later this month. Irving has had a signature line with Nike since 2014.

Expressing deep sadness and disappointment over the situation and its broader impact, Nike emphasized its commitment to opposing hate speech and antisemitism.