Nike Suspends Contract With Kyrie Irving
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It seems some of the biggest stars on the planet can’t seem to stay out of trouble as almost two weeks ago Ye (FKA Kanye West) was officially dropped by his biggest partner, adidas, after an October filled with controversy. Now, a man Ye has been praising on his Twitter is joining him in losing his biggest sponsorship as Nike has formally cut ties with Kyrie Irving ahead of the launch of his latest signature silhouette, the Nike Kyrie 8.
Nike announced their decision to cut ties with the Nets star by stating the following
“At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism. To that end, we've made the decision to suspend our relationship with Kyrie Irving effective immediately and will no longer launch the Kyrie 8. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone.”
As of this writing, Kyrie and his team have not made any statements regarding Nike cutting ties, however, this comes less than a day after Irving made a public apology for his actions. Prior to this, rumors spread that Nike was not looking to continue their contract with Irving once it expired in 2023 as their relationship become rocky. Last summer, ahead of the launch of the then-titled Kyrie 8 (now called the Kyrie Infinity), Irving took to Twitter to share his displeasure with the design of the silhouette.
Going forward, we’ll have to watch how Irving navigates his career both on and off the court with this controversy surrounding him. Perhaps another sportswear brand scoops up the aging star in the coming month. For more updates on the latest news, raffles, releases, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world, keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com
