Getty Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center on April 08, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving made it clear before the 2021-22 season began that he would not be taking the coronavirus vaccine that was required for him to play home games at Barclays Center. Even if that meant him not being able to play. Irving’s decision resulted in him being sidelined by the Nets at the beginning of the season.
“This is my life,” Irving said on Instagram Live in October 2021 via ESPN. “I get to do whatever I want with this; this is one body that I get here. And you are telling me what to do with my body. This has everything to do with what is going on in our world. And I am being grouped into something bigger than just the game of basketball.”
This season Irving will be allowed to be a full-time participant for the Nets. In March, New York City dropped the private sector vaccine mandate that prevented Kyrie from playing home games while unvaccinated. Now the Nets star is doubling down on his criticism of the vaccine, saying that forcing people to take it is a human rights violation.
“If I can work and be unvaccinated, then all of my brothers and sisters who are also unvaccinated should be able to do the same, without being discriminated against, vilified, or fired,” Irving said via his Twitter account on September 20.
“This enforced Vaccine/Pandemic is one the biggest violations of HUMAN RIGHTS in history.”
If I can work and be unvaccinated, then all of my brothers and sisters who are also unvaccinated should be able to do the same, without being discriminated against, vilified, or fired. ♾🤞🏾
This enforced Vaccine/Pandemic is one the biggest violations of HUMAN RIGHTS in history.
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Fans on Twitter Slam Kyrie Irving for Vaccine Comments
Kyrie has never been shy about expressing his thoughts and opinions. He has proven repeatedly that he will say what he feels, despite how others may react to it. Sending the controversial Tweet landed Irving in hot water with NBA fans on Twitter, who unleashed a myriad of opinions about his statement.
@KyrieIrving Man is determined to have his career defined by the one shot he didn’t take, instead of the one (and only) big shot he made
Kyrie’s Stance on Vaccine Deeper Than Personal Choice
Irving’s stance in his fight against the vaccine may seem centered around his freedom of choice, but it goes much deeper than that. According to a December 2021 report from Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson of “Bally Sports”, Irving’s skepticism of the vaccine is centered around his long injury history that dates back to his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“Those closest to him also have shared that Irving knows anything he says will be magnified, and scrutinized, and he doesn’t want to be viewed as an anti-vaxxer. He’s not taking this stance to be a voice for the voiceless.
He’s just not trusting of the available vaccines, according to sources. Irving also does not want to get vaccinated because of bad experiences with his health due to basketball injuries over the years,” Robinson writes per Bally Sports.
Kyrie Irving doesn’t want to be viewed as anti-vaxxer, voice for voiceless.
Find out why @KyrieIrving’s the happiest he’s been in years, how Nets PG’s bad experiences with health plays into his decision & why he’s been silent.
My story @BallySports ➡️ t.co/TiVFuybG1Y
“His 2018 knee surgery in Boston was a corrective procedure because the screws from his 2015 surgery caused an infection in his knee. Moreover, a 2019 shoulder injury became difficult to diagnose and ultimately forced him to have surgery in 2020.”
The Nets media day takes place on September 26 before the team heads to training camp on September 27. It will be interesting to see if Kyrie uses his platform on that day to explain his comments further.