Nike Officially Suspends Partnership With Kyrie Irving

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After a week of disastrous press surrounding Kyrie Irving sharing an antisemitic video and then refusing to answer reporters’ questions, the NBA player finally apologized. The apology came after the Brooklyn Nets suspended Kyrie for a minimum of five games.

Following that, the NBA and the Nets drew a line in the sand and listed off a number of things they want the basketball player to do.

Yahoo Sports reports that in order for Irving to return he “must meet with the media and issue a verbal apology that clearly states he’s sorry for sharing the film and understands the film is harmful and untrue.”

He also must share the apology on his social media accounts which he did just hours after his suspension.

Nike Announces It Will Suspend Its Partnership with Kyrie Irving & Cancel The Release Of His Upcoming Sneaker

Despite his apology, Nike announced that it was pulling the plug on their partnership.

“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism,” reads an official statement from the brand. “To that end we’ve made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kvrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone.”

The relationship with Nike and Irving was far from perfect with rumors circulating that the sneaker giant wouldn’t renew his contract.

Additionally, unlike Adidas dropping Kanye West and planning to release sneakers without him, Nike’s officially shelving their Kyrie 8 sneakers.