NBA Superstar with Native American Roots Apologizes After Saying 'F--- Thanksgiving'
The Boston Celtics were upset by the New York Knicks on Wednesday in their last game before Thanksgiving.
After the game, a reporter in the locker room wished Celtics star Kyrie Irving a happy Thanksgiving.
“I don’t celebrate that s—,” he responded. “F— Thanksgiving.”
The comment didn’t go over well with many fans.
If he is too prideful to be thankful for all he has….that is sad way to live.
— Jonathan Bowers (@JMBowers75) November 22, 2018
Ignorant Millionaire!
Cry Baby
Boo Who
— NHLandMLB_Fan (@NHLandMLB_Fan) November 22, 2018
Irving apologized Thursday, saying he had spoken out of “frustration” after the loss to the Knicks.
I spoke w/ frustration after last nights game and spoke words that shouldn’t be in a professional setting no matter what.
— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) November 22, 2018
Meant no disrespect to the Holiday and those who celebrate it respectfully. I’m grateful for the time We all can share with our families. We are always ONE. ??
— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) November 22, 2018
He later told a reporter that “it shouldn’t have been in a professional setting no matter what my beliefs are in terms of Thanksgiving or where I come from.”
Kyrie Irving apologizes for making his Thanksgiving statement in a “professional setting” but not for making the statement. He explains his opinion. #Celtics pic.twitter.com/IlZ9oTcL0G
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) November 23, 2018
That was a reference to the fact that Irving is part Native American. His mother, who died when he was 4, was a descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
This past summer, Irving honored his mother by visiting the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and learning more about his heritage.
He was also given the name Little Mountain by the tribe in a ceremony that took place in North Dakota.
Just call him “Little Mountain.”
Boston @Celtics star @KyrieIrving has been given a Lakota name and is now part of his mother’s Sioux tribe. #NBA
More from on the ceremony on the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota from @NicholsonBlake: https://t.co/O5K9FLLDJF pic.twitter.com/7WFGwZsDyO
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) August 24, 2018
“There was a certain point in my life where I had come almost at a crossroads with my dad, my sister, my friends, my grandparents, and I had no idea kind of what direction to go into because I had lost the sense of a foundation,” Irving said. “Knowing my mom passed and left me such a powerful, empowering family such as Standing Rock … to be a part of it now, this is family for life.”
Irving also got a tattoo of the tribe’s logo on the back of his neck and has shown up at games this season wearing the attire of the tribe.
Ironically, Thanksgiving also happened to be the day that a new Nike commercial involving Irving and his father premiered.
The ad talks about his mother’s death when he was young, which forced Drederick Irving to raise Kyrie and his sister alone.
Being a single father forced Drederick to give up his pro basketball career in order to raise his kids. Kyrie honors his father by wearing the same No. 11 that he wore.
My dad is the reason I wear 11. I want to be the reason no one else will. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/CZiLOsxbA9
— Kyrie Irving (@KyrieIrving) November 22, 2018
“He was a great player. He even tried out for Boston once,” Kyrie says of Drederick. “But he sacrificed his dream so I could live mine.
“He’s the reason I where No. 11. I want to be the reason no one else will.”
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