The NBA’s Miami Heat distanced itself from a player who earlier this week used an anti-Semitic slander while playing a video game broadcast live over the internet.
Meyers Leonard, a 2.1-meter center for the Heat, on Monday called another player “k —” during a “Call of Duty” match that was being broadcast on the online game streaming service Twitch.
“The Miami Heat strongly condemns the use of any form of hate speech,” the Heat said in a statement.
“The words used by Meyers Leonard were wrong and we will not tolerate hateful language from anyone associated with our franchise,” added the team. “Hearing this from a Miami Heat player is especially disappointing and painful for everyone who works here, as well as the largest communities in South Florida, Miami Heat and the NBA. “
In a social media post on Tuesday, Leonard acknowledged the use of slander, claimed not to know that the term was offensive to Jews and apologized.
“I acknowledge and acknowledge my mistake and there is no escaping something like that that hurts another person so much,” said Leonard. “My ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is not an excuse at all and I was just wrong.”
The NBA said it is investigating the incident and is considering a possible punishment for the seventh year player.
“The NBA unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech,” league spokesman Mike Bass told the Associated Press.
The Heat said Leonard will spend time away from the team, which will begin its second half of the season after the All-Star Break this week.
Leonard could become a free agent this summer, the AP noted, and Heat has an option in its contract for the 2021-2022 season, totaling about $ 10 million. He appeared in just three games this year for Miami.