WATCH: Kyrie Irving Faces Media & Refuses To Answer Point-Blank Question

Kyrie Irving faced the media today for the first time in several days after posting (and then taking down a few days later) a tweet promoting an antisemitic film, and he was asked point-blank "do you have any antisemitic beliefs?" Watch his response:

Kyrie Irving is asked if he has any anti-Semitic beliefs: pic.twitter.com/hHI8FFqMbs

— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 3, 2022

"Again, I'm gonna repeat: I don't know how the label becomes justified because you guys ask me the same questions over and over again. But this is not gonna turn into a spinaround cycle, questions upon questions. I told you guys how I felt. I respect all walks of life and embrace all walks of life. That's where I sit."

"I think people would want to hear a 'yes' or 'no' on that question," the reporter repeated. "Yes or no?"

"I cannot be antisemitic if I know where I come from."

Again, I watched the movie that Kyrie signal-boosted and when he says "I can't be antisemitic if I know where I come from," that's a tacit endorsement of the film's central, VERY anti-Semitic thesishttps://t.co/7rgJ8HeUdU

— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) November 3, 2022

Drew Magary of SFGate points out that Irving's comment "'I can't be antisemitic if I know where I come from,' is a tacit endorsement of the film's central, very anti-Semitic thesis."

The Anti-Defamation League's CEO responded to seeing this with "The answer to the question “Do you have any antisemitic beliefs” is always “NO” without equivocation. We took @KyrieIrving at his word when he said he took responsibility, but today he did not make good on that promise. Kyrie clearly has a lot of work to do."

It was only two days ago that Nets GM Sean Marks said they were keeping Irving away from media for the time being because “We don't want to cause more fuss right now with more interaction with people.”

So much for that.

Many around the league and within the Nets organization were hoping that Kyrie would say at least these two things today:

1. “I’m sorry.”
2. “I don’t have anti-Semitic beliefs.”

That did not happen.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 3, 2022

And so the drama will continue. Next up, a meeting for Irving with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who announced earlier today that he was "disappointed" in Irving's "reckless" actions. 

Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports