Fat Joe Ye Asked Me For Advice During Odd L.A. Run-In
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Fat Joe's about to drop his memoir, which is filled with lessons many young rappers could use -- but it's actually an old-school rapper, one Kanye West, who recently sought out Joe's counsel.
The legendary Bronx MC joined us Friday on "TMZ Live," and revealed he, almost literally, ran into Ye while walking out of his L.A. hotel room. Joe says Ye asked him for advice on how to handle all the backlash for his bigoted and antisemitic remarks.
He says he told Ye the truth, as he sees it, reminding him he's got pals from all walks of life and all religions. FJ advised Ye to keep God in mind, and stop using hurtful words.
Joe's got a lot more gems to drop -- especially for hip hop's up-and-comers -- in 'The Book of Jose.' His memoir will be available Tuesday, and reveals his days as a street hustler and his rise to rap superstar. He told us he knew exactly when his life had changed, and he needed to stop hanging with his old crew from the block.
It comes down to 2 words: RICO laws! You gotta see Joe explain the light bulb moment.
BTW, after his Ye run-in ... Joe also had an encounter with Will Smith, who's been laying low since that Oscars slap.
As Joey Crack puts it, he really is the Forrest Gump of hip hop, because the guy knows everyone ... and he's got some great stories to tell!!!
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Adam Silver, Nets Owner Joe Tsai Both Call Kyrie Not Antisemitic After Meetings W/ NBA Star
9:26 AM PT -- Joe Tsai says after meeting with Kyrie Irving this week, he, too, fully believes Irving is not antisemitic.
The Nets owner tweeted Friday morning that he chatted with Irving and the basketball player's family on Thursday -- and said of it all, "It's clear to me that Kyrie does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group."
Tsai added, "The Nets and Kyrie, together with the NBA and NBPA, are working constructively toward a process of forgiveness, healing and education."
Still no word yet on when Irving's suspension will be lifted ... but all signs appear to be pointing toward it being sooner than later.
Following a meeting between Adam Silver and Kyrie Irving this week ... the NBA commissioner now says he has "no doubt" that the Nets star is not antisemitic.
The Association's honcho and the controversial Brooklyn point guard caught up on Tuesday ... and while Silver declined to get into the specifics of their chat during an interview with the New York Times on Thursday ... he did say he came away from the meeting sure that Irving was not full of hate.
"He's someone I've known for a decade," Silver told the outlet, "and I've never heard an antisemitic word from him or, frankly, hate directed at any group."
Silver requested the meeting with Irving after the basketball player had tweeted out a link to "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!" -- a film filled with antisemitic tropes.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Slams Kyrie Irving's 'Apology,' It Wasn't Enough!
The commish had called Irving's decision to press send "reckless" ... while blasting him for his refusal to immediately apologize. Irving was eventually hit with an indefinite ban from the Nets -- and ultimately said he was sorry.
Silver admitted the league and the Nets should have acted sooner regarding a suspension for Irving over it all ... telling the NYT, "We may have been able to get there faster. I accept that criticism."
But, he did say he believed both the Nets and the league got the suspension right in the end.
Irving is eligible to come off the ban later this week -- though it's unclear if that will actually happen ... as Brooklyn has imposed a myriad of conditions the 30-year-old must meet in order to return to the floor.
Silver also took aim at Amazon during his talk with the NY Times ... clearly believing the film Irving tweeted out shouldn't have a place in the org.'s marketplace.
For its part, Amazon has not yet removed the film ... and has not commented on the situation.
Originally Published -- 6:13 AM PT
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Phil Knight on Kyrie Irving Relationship With Nike 'Likely Over' ... 'Stepped Over The Line'
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Kyrie Irving's relationship with Nike is "likely over," says Phil Knight, co-founder and chairman of the manufacturing conglomerate.
In an interview with CNBC, the billionaire commented on Irving's future with the Swoosh, saying, "I would doubt that we go back. But, I don't know for sure."
"Kyrie stepped over the line. It's kind of that simple. He made some statements that we just can't abide by, and that's why we ended the relationship. And, I was fine with that."
As we reported on Friday, the shoe giant announced it was suspending its relationship with the Nets' superstar point guard after he refused to apologize for tweeting a link to a controversial film containing antisemitic messaging.
"At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech, and we condemn any form of antisemitism," the company said.
Nike's move to press pause on its partnership with Irving came after the Nets suspended Kyrie for at least five games -- the team felt that the 30-year-old wasn't contrite when he apologized for the harm he caused the Jewish community.
Like the Nets, Nike, too, was disappointed in Irving's seeming reluctance to disavow the antisemitic content in the film he tweeted, which left the company no choice but to suspend Kyrie's deal.
Knight told the outlet that when signing athletes, they consider not only how good the athlete is ... but also the kind of character the individual displays.
"It's not an exact science, but it's a process that we go through with a lot of intensity and with a lot of people sticking their hand in it."
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Shawn Mendes Hunk Takes a Hike ... Forgot My Shirt At Home 😜
Shawn Mendes is making a strong case to be Canada's finest export ... for the latest evidence, look no further than these pics of him taking a stroll without a shirt!!!
The "Treat You Better" singer ditched his shirt Wednesday and went on a hike on one of Los Angeles' many trails ... looking like a certified hunk.
Shawn worked up a sweat on his journey ... which only made him look even hotter.
The guy's checking all the boxes here ... flowing dark hair, the right mix of tattoos, six-pack abs, and just enough body hair. Yes, please!!!
Handsome looks aside, it's good to see Shawn looking happy and healthy ... remember, he's not performing right now because he canceled his world tour for a mental health break.
TMZ broke the story ... Shawn told us he pressed pause on his tour to enjoy the simple things in life, along with some therapy, in order to regain his life balance.
The last time we saw Shawn, he was going to church with Justin Bieber, who also put his tour on ice for a mental health break.
Check out the gallery ... shirtless Shawn is here to answer prayers.
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Report: Kyrie Irving 'Productive' Visit With Adam Silver
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Kyrie Irving reportedly had a "productive and understanding visit" with NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday.
The report comes just 5 days after the All-Star guard was suspended at least 5 games for failing to adequately apologize for sharing a film containing antisemitic beliefs on Twitter.
Silver was furious with Irving after several opportunities to denounce antisemitism and the contents of the film ... saying he would be meeting him in person to address the matter.
"While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize," Silver said at the time.
Two days after posting a link to an antisemitic film (that’s still up), here’s Kyrie Irving:
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) October 30, 2022 @kendallbaker
- Claiming that posting a link to something isn’t promoting it 🤔
- Playing the victim
- Accusing a journalist of “dehumanizing” him by simply asking about itpic.twitter.com/qGdDVO7awA
According to Shams Charania, the meeting went down earlier today ... and the report states it went well for both sides.
The report says the conversation is "paving the way" for the Nets and Irving to move forward ... which could potentially mean his return to the court once the 5-game punishment is up later this week.
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Nick Cannon Defends Kyrie Irving ... Nets' Demands Are 'Dehumanizing'
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Nick Cannon is ripping the Brooklyn Nets for "dehumanizing" Kyrie Irving with a list of demands that must be completed before he can return ... comparing the team to a master attempting to break a slave.
Cannon defended Irving during a conversation with Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt this week ... saying, "I can wholeheartedly say I know Kyrie Irving is not antisemitic."
Greenblatt says he took serious issue with Irving sharing a film that questioned the legitimacy of the Holocaust ... which he explained is dehumanizing to Jewish people.
Cannon says it goes both ways, though ... claiming the conditions of Irving's suspension -- including meeting with Jewish leaders and completing training -- is similar to "buck-breaking."
Nick explained the term for Greenblatt, saying ... "The slave masters would bring the buck -- the one that gets out of line -- so all the other slaves would see lash after lash, show them the power to set an example. 'This is what you must do to fall in line.' So, when we see the 6 things that Kyrie must do to get his job back, that's dehumanizing."
Cannon came under fire for making antisemitic comments in 2020, when he agreed with long-held stereotypes about Jewish people ... including having control over banks and much of the world's wealth. Nick also suggested white people were "a little less" than dark-skinned people.
He also defended ex-Public Enemy member Professor Griff for saying back in the late '80s Jews spread wickedness around the world.
Cannon later apologized for his comments ... saying he was "ashamed of the uninformed and naïve place that these words came from."
Similar to Irving, who at least temporarily lost his Nike deal, Cannon lost his job with Viacom ... but eventually reconciled with the company in 2021.
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Howard Stern Rips 'F***ing Moron' Kyrie irving ... For Pushing Antisemitic Movie
There's at least one powerful celeb who ain't buying Kyrie Irving's apology ... Howard Stern absolutely shredded the NBA star, calling him a "f***ing moron" and a "douchebag!"
Of course, Irving (kinda sorta) apologized last week hours after he was hit with a minimum five-game suspension for pushing an antisemitic book/film on social media. Many felt the apology fell well short of what Irving needed to say to undo the harm he caused.
Count Stern, who happens to be Jewish, among that group ... the world's most famous radio host went in on the 30-year-old hooper Monday morning during his show.
"This Kyrie Irving is a complete douchebag. I mean what a f***ing ... you know he's a flat earther? He's a douchebag," Stern said.
Then, Howard mockingly imitated Kyrie, saying ... "Just let me hate the Jews. Don't bust my balls. I just wanna go on Twitter and hate Jews. Can't you just leave me alone? Everyone hates Jews. Why ya picking on me? I'm just an NBA player. I don't understand anything. A lot of people hate the Jews. Why ya picking on me? The Earth is flat. I think Jews are lizards. Next question. Just leave me be," Stern said to his millions of listeners.
Kyrie has served three games of his suspension ... meaning if he satisfies the team's requirements to return -- meeting with Jewish community leaders, etc. -- he could return this Saturday against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
Even if he returns, Irving reputation has suffered a massive blow ... as have his pockets.
Nike suspended its lucrative partnership with the Nets guard and halted the release of an upcoming signature sneaker.
It's not the first time Stern's gone after a celebrity who made offensive comments. Just a few weeks ago Howard compared Kanye West to just about the worst person possible ... Adolf Hitler.
"Kanye used to be fun crazy. Now he’s like Hitler," Stern said, also calling Ye a "douchebag."
A couple weeks after Stern made the comments, Kanye responded while on a podcast, telling him to "shut the f*** up," adding, "I used to be a fan of you."
Unlike Ye, Irving is yet to fire back at Howard.
Stay tuned.
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Kevin Durant Speaks On Kyrie Controversy ... Nets 'Could've Kept Quiet'
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8:31 AM PT -- Durant is following up on his comments ... making it clear he is against hate speech and antisemitism.
"I'm about spreading love always," KD tweeted. "Our game Unites people and I wanna make sure that's at the forefront."
Kevin Durant thinks the Brooklyn Nets should have shut up and let Kyrie Irving dribble ... saying the organization should have not gotten involved in his teammate's antisemitism controversy.
He does, however, say he trusts the organization to make the right decision when asked about Kyrie's 5-game suspension.
KD spoke with the media on Friday about the Nets' decision to punish Kyrie over inadequately addressing the decision to post a link to a movie riddled with antisemitic beliefs ... and he feels like it was none of the team's business.
Kevin Durant speaks after Kyrie Irving suspension: "I'm not here to judge anybody" pic.twitter.com/WDWIi9DwBI
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) November 4, 2022 @usatodaysports
"I ain't here to judge nobody or talk down on the life or how they feel with their views and things," Durant said. "I just didn't like anything that went on. I felt like it was all unnecessary. I felt like we could have just kept playing basketball and kept quiet as an organization."
Durant also took a jab at the media ... saying outlets were quick to spark outrage after Kyrie posted the tweet.
"Everybody has an opinion on the situation, and we're hearing it nonstop."
As we previously reported, Kyrie has been under fire for several missed opportunities to apologize and denounce antisemitism ... which resulted in his suspension and a fiery statement from NBA commish Adam Silver.
The Nets also voiced their dissatisfaction when handing down the suspension ... saying, "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."
Kyrie eventually released his latest attempt at a mea culpa on Thursday ... which still wasn't enough for some critics.
Nets GM Sean Marks spoke about Irving's most recent comments on Friday ... saying it's a "step," but there's still more that needs to be done.
Marks also said the Nets never considered waiving Irving ... but it's clear the team is not happy.
Originally Published -- 8:19 AM PT
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Kyrie Irving Finally Apologizes ... But Fans Question Sincerity
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Kyrie Irving is finally apologizing for tweeting out a link to an antisemitic film ... though many fans are questioning the sincerity of the Brooklyn Nets star's mea culpa.
The 30-year-old wrote out the "I'm sorry" in a lengthy post on his Instagram page late Thursday night -- one week after he promoted the film "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!"
He began by admitting he made a mistake in pedaling a movie that contained "anti-Semitic statements, narratives, and language that were untrue and offensive to the Jewish Race/Religion."
He then apologized to people of Jewish faith for his actions -- something he had refused to explicitly do despite having multiple opportunities in the days after he pressed "send" on his tweet.
"To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post," he wrote, "I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize."
Some have found the line to be insincere -- believing it to be nothing more than "I'm sorry if I offended you" rhetoric.
Kyrie then apologized for not explaining the parts of the documentary that he actually agreed with ... another line with which fans took umbrage -- considering the entire film is laced with antisemitic tropes.
Finally, Irving wrote, "I had no intentions to disrespect any Jewish cultural history regarding the Holocaust or perpetuate any hate." Some have blasted him for this comment as well. The question -- is he really acknowledging the Holocaust happened, or is he saying he's sorry he offended Jewish belief that it happened? There's a huge difference between the two.
Did Kyrie Apologize?
Irving's apology came just hours after the Nets announced the point guard would be suspended for at least five games over the situation. The team said in a statement he will not be allowed to play for the org. again until he "satisfies a series of objective remedial measures that address the harmful impact of his conduct."
Irving has started 8 games so far for Brooklyn this season, averaging 26.9 points per game.
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Kyrie Irving Anti-Defamation League Refuses Donation ... Gives Back $500K
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The Anti-Defamation League is refusing to accept Kyrie Irving's donation ... with its CEO saying in a statement Thursday the org. is giving back the $500K that the Nets star donated this week.
Jonathan Greenblatt made the announcement on his Twitter page -- just minutes after Brooklyn suspended the point guard for at least five games.
Kyrie Irving Pushes Back on Antisemitic Labels After Promoting Movie
In his statement, Greenblatt said that after Irving refused to specifically apologize for tweeting out a link to a film that contained antisemitic rhetoric despite having multiple opportunities to do so ... the ADL "cannot in good conscience accept his donation."
"We were optimistic," Greenblatt said, "but after watching the debacle of a press conference, it’s clear that Kyrie feels no accountability for his actions."
Irving initially made the donation on Wednesday evening ... with the Nets saying they'd match his pledge. A statement came attached to the announcement of the contribution, with Irving appearing to express remorse for his tweet.
But, things only got worse after that -- despite having several chances to straight-up apologize or completely denounce antisemitism, Kyrie refused.
"I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from," Irving said when asked if he held any antisemitic beliefs.
He also would not explain what parts of the film he disagreed with ... saying, "I think some of the criticism of the Jewish faith and the community for sure. Some points made in there that were unfortunate."
The ADL isn't alone. NBA commissioner Adam Silver -- who is Jewish -- unloaded on Irving for his comments ... saying he was "disappointed and" would be meeting with him in person over the matter.
Brooklyn Nets Suspend Kyrie Irving For At Least Five Games
Irving has since been suspended at least 5 games ... with the Nets saying they're "currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets."
It's unclear if the ADL will accept the Nets' $500k donation that came along with Kyrie's contribution.
Irving's now had three chances to put the controversy behind him ... and only continues to dig himself into a deeper hole.
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Kanye West I Got Your Back, Kyrie!!! ... Posts NBA Star's Pic Amid Antisemitic Movie Backlash
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Kanye West is doubling down on his support for Kyrie Irving ... sharing a pic of the NBA star as they both find themselves embroiled in controversy over pushing antisemitic rhetoric.
The Brooklyn Nets guard released a statement denouncing "all forms of hate and oppression" and vowed to make a $500k donation to fight for the cause on Wednesday ... after facing a ton of backlash for posting a link to a movie that is filled with hurtful beliefs toward the Jewish community.
While KI took responsibility for his actions ... but did not flat-out say "I'm sorry" or "I apologize."
— ye (@kanyewest) November 3, 2022 @kanyewest
Just six hours later, Ye went to his Twitter account and posted a black and white image of Kyrie to his 31.7 million followers ... seemingly backing the athlete for the second time in three days.
Ye previously backed Irving on Sunday ... posting a different black-and-white image of him and saying, "There's some real ones still here."
While Irving has stated he wasn't "promoting" the beliefs in the movie, West has been dealing with a crap storm of his own over the past few weeks after making antisemitic remarks that resulted in Balenciaga, CAA and Adidas all cutting ties with him.
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Amar'e Stoudemire Kyrie Irving Needs To Apologize ... 'You Made A Mistake'
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Former NBA star Amar'e Stoudemire -- who converted to Judaism in 2020 -- wants Kyrie Irving to own up to his actions and apologize for tweeting out a link to a movie filled with antisemitic rhetoric ... saying the Brooklyn Nets guard made a mistake.
STAT addressed the controversy surrounding Irving on ESPN’s "Get Up" Wednesday morning ... saying, "You have to give an apology because if you’re going to promote a documentary that has false allegations inside of it, and you may not understand that these allegations that’s inside the documentary are false, okay, you made a mistake, right? So apologize for it."
39-year-old Stoudemire says Kyrie created a problem by not expressing any regret over the situation ... and is giving the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver no choice but to look into it.
"I think something has to happen, intensive conversations with the commissioner about what he’s doing and what his plans are as a basketball player."
As for whether Kyrie should be suspended over the whole ordeal, Amar'e -- who previously served as an assistant for the Nets -- is on the fence.
"I mean, Kyrie’s a guy who’s trying to find himself," he added. "He’s always on this quest for learning and information. And if you’re not totally understanding what you’re learning and what you’re trying to promote, then just don’t promote it. Just learn quietly and try to figure it out."
"But once you start putting information out there that’s not true, then now it creates a problem."
Kyrie Irving Pushes Back on Antisemitic Labels After Promoting Movie
Amar'e has gone after Irving in the past ... saying the guard's decision to not get the COVID-19 vaccine affected the team's chemistry.
Irving has been at the center of criticism for how he's handled the backlash ... with both Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal calling him an "idiot" on TNT's "Inside The NBA."
Nike -- Kyrie's biggest sponsor -- released a statement regarding the matter ... denouncing hate speech of any kind.
"At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech, and we condemn any form of antisemitism," the Swoosh said on Tuesday.
TMZ Sports spoke with Amar'e about antisemitism back in 2020 ... when the six-time All-Star told us he wanted to "bridge the gap" between Black and Jewish people after comments made by Nick Cannon and NFLer DeSean Jackson -- for which they apologized.
Irving eventually deleted the tweet about the movie and insisted he is not antisemitic ... but has not apologized.
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Charles Barkley 'Idiot' Kyrie Irving Should've Been Suspended
Charles Barkley says the NBA flubbed its handling of the most recent Kyrie Irving drama ... explaining Tuesday night he believes the league should've suspended the Nets star over his controversial tweet.
Barkley didn't mince words while talking about the situation on "Inside the NBA" -- calling Irving an "idiot" ... and blasting the Association for not dropping the hammer on the point guard.
"I think Adam [Silver] should have suspended him," Barkley said. "First of all, Adam is Jewish -- you can’t take my $40 million and insult my religion. You gonna insult me, you have the right, but I have the right to say, ‘You can’t take my $40 million and insult my religion.'"
"I think the NBA, they made a mistake."
Two days after posting a link to an antisemitic film (that’s still up), here’s Kyrie Irving:
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) October 30, 2022 @kendallbaker
- Claiming that posting a link to something isn’t promoting it 🤔
- Playing the victim
- Accusing a journalist of “dehumanizing” him by simply asking about itpic.twitter.com/qGdDVO7awA
Of course, Silver did not level punishment on Irving ... despite the basketball player tweeting out a link to "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," a movie packed with antisemitic rhetoric.
Kyrie Irving Pushes Back on Antisemitic Labels After Promoting Movie
Irving never apologized for sharing it ... and, in fact, two days after sending the tweet, he got into a tiff with a reporter who had suggested he had been "promoting" the film on his platform.
Irving did, though, eventually take down the tweet. He also said in a separate tweet he is not antisemitic.
But, Barkley's co-host, Shaq, had issues with it all as well ... calling Irving an "idiot" too.
Meanwhile, during TNT's broadcast of the Nets vs. Bulls game ... Reggie Miller, who was commentating the game, said he was disappointed there was not a vocal outcry from players in the league over it all.
The Nets have not yet made Irving available to the media since his testy Saturday press conference -- with Brooklyn GM Sean Marks saying Tuesday night he wanted to let "cooler minds prevail" before handing over the mic to the 30-year-old again.
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Kyrie Irving Fans Wear 'Fight Antisemitism' Shirts ... To Protest Comments
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10:18 AM PT -- Video of Kyrie Irving approaching the fans has made its way to social media ... showing they had what appeared to be a friendly mid-game interaction.
Irving did, in fact, say "grateful for you" ... as well as "it's great to see you here."
Kyrie telling the Jewish fans in 'Fight Antisemitism" shirts that he's grateful for them pic.twitter.com/PCW1ZABhV8
— dave (@nbadaves) November 1, 2022 @nbadaves
The fans respond by saying, "thank you."
Several fans had a strong message for the Brooklyn Nets amid Kyrie Irving's backlash for posting about an antisemitic movie on social media -- donning yarmulkes and "fight antisemitism" shirts while sitting courtside at the game.
The group sat near the Indiana bench during the Pacers vs. Nets matchup in Brooklyn ... and Kyrie reportedly acknowledged them by making a thumbs-up gesture.
One of the fans claims Irving spoke to them during the contest ... saying he was "grateful for you guys," although they felt it was in a sarcastic tone, according to the New York Post.
The fan said the shirts were a message for the Nets ... adding the team should cut ties with Irving.
Kyrie Irving Pushes Back on Antisemitic Labels After Promoting Movie
The move comes on the heels of Kyrie's decision to tweet out a link to "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," a movie that has been accused of being filled with stereotypes and tropes.
Kyrie defended the move ... saying he "meant no disrespect to anyone’s religious beliefs."
"The 'Anti-Semitic' label that is being pushed on me is not justified and does not reflect the reality or truth I live in everyday," he added. "I embrace and want to learn from all walks of life and religions."
Joe Tsai -- the owner of the Nets -- spoke out against Irving's post ... saying he was disappointed in the superstar's decision to share the project.
Two days after posting a link to an antisemitic film (that’s still up), here’s Kyrie Irving:
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) October 30, 2022 @kendallbaker
- Claiming that posting a link to something isn’t promoting it 🤔
- Playing the victim
- Accusing a journalist of “dehumanizing” him by simply asking about itpic.twitter.com/qGdDVO7awA
Tsai also said he wanted to meet with Irving to help him understand why his actions were hurtful.
Kanye West -- who is also facing his own backlash -- commented on Kyrie's actions ... calling him a "real one."
As for the game, the Nets won 116-109 ... with Irving earning 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
He did not speak with the media after the contest.
Originally Published -- 6:47 AM PT
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Robert Kraft Sponsors 'Stand Up To Jewish Hate' Ad ... During NFL Games
Patriots owner Robert Kraft sponsored an ad Sunday ... asking people watching NFL games to "stand up to Jewish hate" in the wake of Kanye West's antisemitic comments.
The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS) released the 30-second ad during the first quarter of the Patriots-Jets game ... "calling attention to the concerning rise of antisemitism."
The org. -- which Kraft founded intending to forge positive relationships with Jews and non-Jews -- expressed in the commercial that they need more people to condemn antisemitism.
"With the recent rise in conversations about antisemitism on social media, FCAS launched #StandUpToJewishHate, encouraging Jews and non-Jews alike to speak out against hatred and stand with the Jewish community," the org.'s website read.
The timing of Kraft's ad was strategic ... and comes as Kanye continues to face backlash over the antisemitic remarks he's repeatedly made in interviews.
Kanye West Says He Only Wishes Death on Jews Who Did Him Wrong
Kanye has seen several high-profile companies part ways with him -- such as Adidas and Balenciaga. Pro athletes Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown also left his sports agency.
Ye isn't the only celeb who's found himself in hot water -- over the weekend, Kyrie Irving was involved in a heated spat with a reporter about a controversial movie he shared on Twitter.
Kyrie Irving shuts down a hack reporter.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 31, 2022 @bennyjohnson
Well done.
pic.twitter.com/2TE6PVQQre
Irving tweeted a link to a film on Amazon called ... "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," which claims to expose who the real "chosen people of God" are.
Nets owner Joe Tsai publicly criticized the Nets' superstar point guard ... and condemned him for promoting the movie on his platform.
I’m disappointed that Kyrie appears to support a film based on a book full of anti-semitic disinformation. I want to sit down and make sure he understands this is hurtful to all of us, and as a man of faith, it is wrong to promote hate based on race, ethnicity or religion.
— Joe Tsai (@joetsai1999) October 29, 2022 @joetsai1999
Irving has since deleted the controversial tweet.
Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes Bros Who Pray Together ... Joint Church Visit After Ending Tours
Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes are takin' each other to church as they both take self-described mental health breaks ... which upended their individual tours.
The pop singers, who have a ton in common, worshipped together Wednesday night at Churchome in Bev Hills. It's unclear if they sang inside -- Justin has in the past -- but we're sure there wouldn't be any pushback from the congregation if they did.
After the church service wrapped up, Shawn hopped into Justin's ride and they left the church together.
As we've reported ... Shawn canceled his world tour back in July, telling fans "It has become more clear that I need to take the time I've never taken personally, to ground myself and come back stronger."
JB did the same a few months later ... announcing he was postponing his Justice World Tour and saying, "The exhaustion overtook me and I realize that I need to make my health the priority right now."
Both 20-something Canadian pop stars seem to be leaning into their faith to get 'em through this rough patch. We know their fans are praying they get well, and return to the road when they're ready.
FYI -- Hailey Bieber was absent from church Wednesday... instead, she was glammin' it up at a Tiffany event nearby.