Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving recently made headlines and faced backlash when he sent out a suspicious tweet that read, “My mask is off. Now take yours off. No fear.”
Although many people assumed that the NBA star was implying that his statement was anti-COVID protocols related, the athlete himself clarified that the tweet was taken out of context.
“‘Mask off’ means you stop being something you’re not and stop lying to yourself,” he tweeted after the first message was posted, explaining what he actually meant.
However, fans still questioned if this was an authentic statement, considering ESPN reported the day before that the National Basketball Association would be continuing the stance that states athletes must be vaccinated against COVID. Additionally, they are enforcing COVID restrictions for the upcoming season that begins in October.
Even more damning is the fact that this is not the first time the professional basketball player has been critiqued! But, what did he say?
Kyrie Irving states that he’s not opposed to the flat Earth conspiracy!
In 2017, the NBA player made headlines for his shocking opinion which favored the conspiracy theory that the Earth is not round, but flat. When presented with a photo that proved the natural shape of the Earth, Irving argued, “Who’s to say that picture is telling the truth? I’m not saying I think it’s flat. I don’t know. But it could be.”
LeBron James even yanked Irving’s chain when he heard the astonishing claim. Poking fun at his friend, Lebron posed the question, “Kyrie, the earth is flat, right?” to which the 29-year-old responded, “Yeah. That’s news. So there we go.”
Yet, the controversy does not end with flat earth conspiracies. Irving was also fined $25,000 by the NBA for misusing media access and violating their rules. Upon this violation, he claimed, “I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda. I am for the truth, no matter who tells it…I do not talk to Pawns. My attention is worth more.”
While there is speculation that Irving was in fact referring to COVID-10 protocols and rules, his Twitter did insist it was not related to the matter. In his closing statement, he elaborated and offered the sentiments that not wearing a mask means “It’s the moment you discover the real you and can walk around with NO FEAR in a society that shows a lot of the masks people wear to hide who they truly are. *nothing COVID rule related!! Relax.”
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