Along the Kyrie irvingDuring his time in the NBA, the current star point guard for the Brooklyn Nets has used his platform to promote several funny but nonsensical conspiracy theories. During a 2017 interview, Irving confirmed that it is an earthy, a posture that he later suggested he was intended to spark an “open conversation”, ultimately advising everyone to “do their own research” on the shape of the earth. And even as more than 700,000 in the US have died in the ongoing pandemic, Irving, who refuses to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, appears to be among the “do your own research” crowd. Irving’s “personal choice” against the vaccine could result in him spending the entire next NBA season off the court, as the Brooklyn Nets will not allow him to practice or play with the team until he is vaccinated.
There are a number of frank anti-vaccines in the league’s ranks, but Irving, as the biggest star among them, has the most to lose. In a statement to reporters on the matter, Irving stated that his opposition to the vaccine is a matter of privacy. “Everything will be released on an expiration date and once we clear this up,” Irving said at the end of last month. “First I am a human being. And obviously, living in this public sphere, there are a lot of questions about what’s going on in Kyrie’s world. And I think I’d love to keep that private and handle it the right way with my team and go ahead with a plan. “(Tuesday, anonymous sources reclaimed to The Athletic that Irving is “not against vaccines” but is “upset that people are losing their jobs due to vaccine mandates”). If Irving puts his stance against the COVID vaccine ahead of his team throughout the season, it could result in his loss of more than $ 17 million, or about half his annual salary with the Nets.
In recent weeks, Irving has received very little sympathy in the national sports media, with many of the leading commentators criticizing him for leaving his team in favor of his own interests. “I’m sorry, if you cannot take a vaccine that has already been taken by more than 6.2 billion people in the world, trying to affirm that you believe that some kind of conspiracy is taking place,” the ESPN presenter presents. Stephen A. Smith said during a CNN interview last night, “and you want to be this defiant and leave the rest of your team hanging … as far as I’m concerned, to hell with you.”
Still, Irving is winning over fans on the right, as the conservative media has now elevated him as their new favorite in the “medical autonomy” revolution. Among his new supporters is Senator Ted Cruz, who asked the Houston Rockets to trade Irving, given that employee vaccine mandates are prohibited in Texas. In a later comment, Cruz accused the corporate media of trying to silence and coerce Irving. “’If tyrannical politicians demand that you get an injection, YOU HAVE NO MEDICAL PRIVACY RIGHTS. You are a sheep and you must meekly obey, ‘”Cruz tweeted. “This is disgusting, condescending and wrong. Kyrie is showing incredible courage. “And while Cruz has frequently denounced The league and its star players for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, the Texas Republican let all anti-vax players in the NBA know that he is on their side. “I was with Kyrie Irving. I stayed with Andrew Wiggins. I stayed with Bradley Beal. I stayed with Jonathan Isaac,“Hey wrote. “#YourBodyYourChoice”.
Cruz then shared a post written by a right-wing radio host. Jesse Kelly, who linked Irving’s position with a group of Southwest Airlines pilots who Tucker carlson reclaimed all said they were sick from the company’s planned adherence to a federal vaccine mandate. (Incoming CEO of Southwest, Bob Jordan, said the strike rumors were “flatly false”). “What is happening right now is significant. I promise you, The System is scared ”, Kelly. wrote. “FINALLY we are seeing a real setback from parts of the country that the system did not expect. This will become fashionable. Cheer on Kyrie Irving. And Southwest Airlines pilots. They’re starting something. “However, Kelly was quick to let his fans know that he doesn’t support Black Lives Matter even if he supports the NBA’s anti-vax players. I’m in charge of her. And I don’t like Kyrie Irving, “he added.” But I’m an adult who understands that we’re in a fight and I don’t have time to wait for the perfect boat to fight these people.
Jason Whitlock, sportscaster and presenter of Glenn beckThe Blaze network also liked Irving’s situation in the face of the Southwest Airlines controversy, tweeting“Too bad Kyrie doesn’t work for Southwest Airlines. I’d have co-workers with balls. “In a strange follow-up column, Whitlock, who is black, praised Irving for “coming out of the closet” and joining the “black men [who] they are escaping from the cages that the matriarchy, the LGBTQ movement and liberal orthodoxy built to tame, house and emasculate us over the past six decades. ”
Similary, Fox and friends host Brian Kilmeade made sure to point to Irving’s career as a way to question whether African Americans would continue to support Joe biden In light of the federal vaccination mandates he approved, he said: “Kyrie Irving in New York will not be able to play unless he is vaccinated. Does President Biden want to take over his base, the African-American base that propelled him to the White House? “he asked earlier in the month. Kilmeade colleague Will Cain, who is a co-host of the weekend edition of Fox and friends, He expressed surprise earlier this month that NBA players “wake up” now “are going against that trend … upholding critical thinking and individuality and opposing popular thinking.” On Newsmax, host John bachman Irving described it as “championing medical autonomy, just like a lot of these pilots are supposedly doing at Southwest,” while Corrin Clark, A guest on the web said Tuesday that she is “glad that some of these athletes are speaking. These are the ones with the least risk of contracting COVID and, in fact, they are losing their jobs because they will not receive a vaccine that disappears in six months. “Although the host of Newsmax Rob finnerty letting the audience know his personal disdain for Irving, who is an outspoken advocate for racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement, calling him “one of the least likeable guys in the NBA,” the conservative expert also noted that he does. to 10,000% “in regards to his stance on the jab” because it is not an American that he is required to receive a vaccine. “