Meyers Leonard.Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Meyers Leonard will be “away” from the Miami Heat “indefinitely” after using an anti-Semitic slur during a video game livestream, the NBA team said in a statement Tuesday.
“The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech,” the Heat said in astatement shared on Twitter Tuesday night.
“Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely,” the team said. “The Miami Heat will cooperate with the NBA while it conducts its investigation.”
Mickey Arison, the Heat’s owner, and his son, Nick, the team’s CEO, are both Jewish,USA Todaynoted. In a comment to theNew York Timesearlier on Tuesday, the team and officials from the NBA said they were reviewing the video.
Leonard, 29,shared an apology on InstagramTuesday, saying that he did not know the meaning of the slur he used, or that it was offensive to the Jewish community.
“I am deeply sorry for using the anti-Semitic slur during a livestream yesterday/ While I didn’t know what the word meant at the time, my ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely not an excuse and I was just wrong,” he said. “I am now more aware of its meaning and I am committed to properly seeking out people who can help educate me about this type of hate and how we can fight it.”
“I acknowledge and own my mistake and there’s not running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else,” he continued. “This is not a proper representation of who I am and I want to apologize to the Arisons, my teammates, coaches, front office, and everyone associated with the Miami Heat organization, to my family, to our loyal fans and to others in the Jewish community I have hurt.”
Leonard ended his apology saying he promised to “do better and know that my future actions will be more powerful that my use of this word.”
Leonard — who is white — previously madeheadlineswhen he remained standing while his teammateskneeled in protest of police brutality and systemic racismduring the 2020 NBA Finals.
In an interview with theAssociated Pressfollowing his refusal to kneel, Leonard said he “absolutely” believedBlack Lives Matterand he was a “compassionate human being.”
source: people.com
