Miami Warmth participant Meyers Leonard will likely be “away from the staff indefinitely” after he used an anti-Semitic slur whereas taking part in a online game, in response to the NBA franchise.
Video began circulating on-line Tuesday of Leonard taking part in “Name of Obligation” on Twitch, a livestreaming platform for players and content material creators. Within the video, Leonard might be heard saying: “F—— cowards. Don’t f—— snipe me, you f—— k— b—-.”
Criticism was swift. The Anti-Defamation League mentioned in a Twitter submit that it was “shocked and upset to see @MeyersLeonard use this ugly, offensive #antisemtic slur.”
By Tuesday evening, the Warmth provided its personal rebuke of Leonard, saying the group “vehemently condemns using any type of hate speech.”
“The phrases utilized by Meyers Leonard have been flawed and we is not going to tolerate hateful language from anybody related to our franchise,” the staff mentioned on its official Twitter web page. “To listen to it from a Miami Warmth participant is very disappointing and hurtful to all those that work right here, in addition to the bigger South Florida, Miami Warmth and NBA communities.”
Warmth proprietor Mickey Arison and his son, Nick, the group’s CEO, are Jewish.
Leonard later apologized to them, saying in an Instagram submit that he didn’t know what the phrase meant.
“I’m deeply sorry for utilizing an anti-Semitic slur throughout a livestream yesterday,” he mentioned. “Whereas I did not know what the phrase meant on the time, my ignorance about its historical past and the way offensive it’s to the Jewish group is totally not an excuse and I used to be simply flawed. I’m now extra conscious of its that means and I’m dedicated to correctly looking for out individuals who may also help educate me about one of these hate and the way we are able to struggle it.”
The NBA is “within the technique of gathering extra info,” league spokesman Mike Bass mentioned in an announcement. “The NBA unequivocally condemns all types of hate speech.”
The Warmth mentioned it’ll cooperate with the investigation.
Leonard is a middle in his ninth NBA season. In January, he sustained a shoulder damage and appeared in solely three video games for the Warmth this yr, The Related Press reported.
Final summer season, earlier than the Miami Warmth kicked off their season taking part in in opposition to the Denver Nuggets at Walt Disney World in Central Florida, Leonard stood, hand over his coronary heart, whereas most gamers and coaches selected to kneel throughout the U.S. nationwide anthem.
Leonard advised The Related Press on the time that he couldn’t deliver himself to kneel as a result of he supported the army. He added that his brother was a U.S. Marine veteran who served two excursions in Afghanistan, and mentioned he nonetheless supported the Black Lives Matter motion.
“I’m a compassionate human being and I really love all individuals,” Leonard mentioned. “I’ll proceed to make use of my platform, my voice and my actions to point out how a lot I care concerning the African American tradition and for everybody. I reside my life to serve and affect others in a optimistic manner.”
