Miami Heat player Meyers Leonard will be ‘off the team’ indefinitely, according to the NBA franchise, after using an anti-Semitic abuse while playing a video game.
Video began circulating online Tuesday of Leonard playing ‘Call of Duty’ on Twitch, a live platform for gamers and content creators. In the video, Leonard can be heard saying, “F —— cowards. Do not snip me f ——, you f —— k — b —-. ”
Criticism was swift. The Anti-Defamation League said in a Twitter post that it was “shocked and disappointed to see @MeyersLeonard using this ugly, offensive #antisemetic slur.”
By Tuesday night, the Heat had presented its own reprimand over Leonard, saying the organization “strongly condemns the use of any form of hate speech.”
“The words Meyers Leonard used were incorrect and we will not tolerate any hate language from anyone associated with our franchise,” the team said on its official Twitter page. “Hearing this from a Miami Heat player is especially disappointing and hurtful to everyone who works here, as well as the larger South Florida, Miami Heat and NBA communities.”
Heat owner Mickey Arison and his son Nick, the organization’s CEO, are Jewish.
Leonard later apologized to them and said in an Instagram message that he did not know what the word meant.
“I am very sorry that I used an anti-Semitic riot during a live stream yesterday,” he said. “Although I did not know what the word meant at the time, my ignorance of its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely no excuse, and I was just wrong. I am now more aware of its meaning. and I’m committed to finding people who can help me learn about this kind of hatred and how we can fight it. ‘
League spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement that the NBA is seeking more information. “The NBA condemns all forms of hate speech unequivocally.”
The Heat said it would cooperate with the investigation.
Leonard is a center in his ninth NBA season. In January, he suffered a shoulder injury and appeared in just three games for the Heat this year, reports The Associated Press.
Last summer, before the Miami Heat season kicked off against the Denver Nuggets at Walt Disney World in Central Florida, Leonard put his hand over his heart while most players and coaches chose to kneel during the American national anthem.
Leonard told The Associated Press at the time that he could not bring himself to his knees because he supported the military. He added that his brother was a U.S. Marine veteran who offered two tours in Afghanistan, and said he still supports the Black Lives Matter movement.
“I’m a compassionate person and I really love all people,” Leonard said. “I will continue to use my platform, my voice and my actions to show how much I care about African American culture and everyone. I live my life to serve and influence others in a positive way. ”
