Meyers Leonard apologizes for anti-Semitic slur used while gaming, and Miami Heat responds
The Miami Heat announced Tuesday night that center Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely after Leonard used an anti-Semitic slur while streaming a recent “Call of Duty” gaming session on Twitch.
On a video that surfaced on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon, Leonard can be heard saying: “Fucking cowards, don’t fucking snipe me you fucking kike bitch.”
“The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech,” the Heat said in a statement issued Tuesday night. “The words used by Meyers Leonard were wrong and we will not tolerate hateful language from anyone associated with our franchise. To hear it from a Miami Heat player is especially disappointing and hurtful to all those who work here, as well as the larger South Florida, Miami Heat and NBA communities.”
Leonard issued an apology Tuesday for his comments, posting this statement on his Instagram account: “I am deeply sorry for using an anti-Semitic slur during a livestream yesterday. While I didn’t know what the word meant at the time, my ignorance about its history and how offensive it is to the Jewish community is absolutely not an excuse and I was just wrong.
“I am now more aware of its meaning and I am committed to properly seeking out people who can help educate me about this type of hate and how we can fight it. I acknowledge and own my mistake and there’s no running from something like this that is so hurtful to someone else. This is not a proper representation of who I am and I want to apologize to the Arisons, my teammates, coaches, front office, and everyone associated with the Miami Heat organization, to my family, to our loyal fans and to others in the Jewish community who I have hurt. I promise to do better and know that my future actions will be more powerful than my use of this word.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon: “We just became aware of the video and are in the process of gathering more information. The NBA unequivocally condemns all forms of hate speech.”
The Heat said it “will cooperate with the NBA while it conducts its investigation.”
[WARNING: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE IN VIDEO]
Call of Duty is a first-person shooter war-simulation video game. And Twitch is a live streaming platform that Leonard has become a popular figure on in the world of video gaming.
The Anti-Defamation League posted its reaction on Twitter a few hours before Leonard apologized: “We are shocked and disappointed to see [Meyers Leonard] use this ugly, offensive #antisemitic slur. We have reached out to the [Miami Heat] and [NBA] about this and urge Mr. Leonard to issue an apology immediately for this egregious and hateful rhetoric.”
Jacob Solomon, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said Tuesday that Leonard’s language “is just plain and simple unacceptable.”
“He has spoken about his feelings for the citizens of Miami and his desire to be a force for good here, but this behavior suggests otherwise,” Solomon said. “Hatred is hatred. Whether it’s aimed at African Americans or LGBTQ people, or Hispanics or in this case Jews, it’s vile and toxic and it does real damage.”
Solomon said “if Mr. Leonard cares enough about the damage he has done,” he would be willing to set up meetings with people “who could help him understand the history of anti-semitism and how this kind of language doesn’t just hurt Jews, but it hurts everyone in the community who is exposed to this kind of bigotry and intolerance.”
Leonard, who re-signed with the Heat on a two-year deal in free agency this past offseason, averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in just three games this season before sustaining a season-ending left shoulder injury. He has not played in a game since Jan. 9, when he hurt his shoulder.
Leonard, 29, could be a free agent this upcoming offseason. He has a $10.2 million team option for next season in his contract.
Leonard was the lone Heat player to stand for the national anthem before games at the Walt Disney World’s quarantine bubble last season. Leonard said it was out of respect for the military — his brother Bailey served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines — while noting that he’s a supporter of the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
Leonard donated $100,000 “to the City of Miami, to Liberty City and Overtown, because they were slammed by voter suppression and COVID.”
“I truly know that I will continue to make an impact with my platform, my voice and with my resources,” Leonard said in August. “I have no shame in saying that Elle and I, my wife, we donated $100,000 to the City of Miami, to Liberty City and Overtown, because they were slammed by voter suppression and COVID. And I have felt connected to this city immediately, and that was something that we felt we could do to help a place that clearly needed it.”
This story was originally published March 9, 2021 at 3:45 PM.
