Nike splits with NBA Nets star guard Kyrie Irving amid antisemitism row

Shoe and sportswear firm Nike is clearly drawing a line in the sand over antisemitism and hate-speech with a decision not to launch footwear named after one of its biggest stars.

The firm has suspended its relationship with Kyrie Irving and canceled its plans to release his next signature shoe, the latest chapter in the ongoing fallout since the Brooklyn Nets guard tweeted a link to a film widely regarded as containing antisemitic material.

The shoe giant announced Friday night that it will halt its ties with Irving, who was suspended, for at least five games, a day before by the Nets for what the team called a repeated failure to “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs.”

Those actions followed widespread criticism from, among many others, the Anti-Defamation League and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech, and we condemn any form of antisemitism," the Beaverton, Oregon-based company said. “To that end, we’ve made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8."

Irving has had a signature line with Nike since 2014.

“We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone," Nike said.

Irving signed with Nike in 2011, shortly after becoming the No. 1 pick in that year’s NBA draft. Irving’s first signature shoe was released three years later, and the popularity of the Kyrie line led to him making a reported €11 million annually just from the Nike endorsement.

The Kyrie 8 was expected to be released in the next week. Previous models of his shoes were still for sale on the Nike website Friday night.

Irving posted a tweet — which has since been deleted — last week with a link to