Kyrie Irving has been making headlines for a little over a week for refusing to comply with the NBA’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. He was banned from practicing and playing until he becomes eligible and many public figures weighed in on the controversy, including Chris Brown.
“The real hero!!!! I stand with my brother,” the singer wrote on his Instagram Story. “WHOEVER DON’T LIKE IT…Go live your damn life.”
Chris Brown publicly stood in solidarity with Kyrie Irving meanwhile NBA legend Charles Barkley thinks Kyrie is being selfish.
“I really am proud of the Nets for putting their foot down,” Barkley said. “For saying no, we’re not going to deal with this half on, half off (situation). The only thing that bugs me is he’s still going to make $17 million sitting at home.”
"First of all, you don't get the vaccine for yourself. You get it for other people."
Chuck weighs in on Kyrie Irving's situation with the Brooklyn Nets. #NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/bLrPbuRQkp
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 20, 2021
Kyrie broke his silence on the entire ordeal. “Everybody is entitled to do what they feel is what’s best for themselves. Seeing the way this is dividing our world up, it’s sad to see. People are losing jobs to mandates,” he said during an Instagram live stream.
“I am doing what’s best for me. I know the consequences here, and if it means that I’m judged and demonized for that, that’s just what it is,” Irving said, in a portion of the live broadcast captured by journalist Chris Haynes. “That’s the role I play, but I never wanted to give up my passion, my love, my dream just over this mandate.”
Kyrie Irving address his stance on not getting the vaccine on IG Live: “It’s about choosing what’s best for you. You think I really want to lose money? You think I really want to give up on my dream to go after a championship? You think I really just want to give up my job?” pic.twitter.com/cYHCWGbnCo
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 14, 2021
