What Happened To Meyers Leonard? What Did Meyers Leonard Say?
by Samina
Updated Feb 03, 2023
Who Is Meyers Leonard?
Meyers Leonard is an American professional basketball player who currently plays as a center for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Leonard was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA draft and played for the team for five seasons before being traded to the Miami Heat in 2019. He has also played for the Chicago Bulls and has been a member of the United States men's national basketball team. Leonard is known for his strong shooting ability and athleticism, as well as his versatility on both ends of the court. Off the court, Leonard is actively involved in various charitable endeavors and has been praised for his commitment to giving back to the community.
What Happened To Meyers Leonard?
An NBA basketball player has been chastised for using a heinous anti-Semitic slur. Meyers Leonard, a Miami Heat centre, made the remarks while streaming on Twitch. The video quickly went viral, and his future with the NBA team is now in doubt after the team issued a harsh rebuke. The NBA is investigating Leonard's use of anti-Semitic language, and FaZe Clan, an eSports organisation, has parted ways with him. Leonard has expressed regret for using the term.
What Did Meyers Leonard Say?
While streaming Call of Duty Leonard called another player a “f******g kike b***h”.
A Jewish person is referred to as a kike.
The word's origins are contested, with one theory proposed by Philip Cowen, editor of "The American Hebrew," that it derives from the Yiddish word kikel, or circle.
The Jewish Times explains: “He suggests that Jewish immigrants, not knowing the Latin alphabet, signed their entry forms with a circle rather than the customary X, which signified Christianity. On this theory, Ellis Island immigration inspectors began calling such people kikels, and the term shortened as time passed.”
Another theory presented by Anatoly Liberman suggests the slur derives from “Hayyim, transcribed in German as Chaim. Kaim Jew was recorded in mid-18th-century German cant. Then, we are told, since Jewish speakers took the -im of Kaim as a plural ending in Hebrew, they created a new singular kai”.
How Did Miami Heat Respond?
The owner of the South Florida team, Israeli-American businessman Micky Arison, issued a statement condemning Leonard.
It read: “The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech.
“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.”
A spokesman for the NBA said: “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.”
Meyers Leonard’s Apology
Leonard apologised, claiming he had no idea what the word meant.
In a statement on Instagram he wrote: “I am deeply sorry for using an antisemitic 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.”
Meyers Leonard previously played for the Portland Trailblazers after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
What Happened To Meyers Leonard - FAQs
Leonard, a nine-year NBA veteran who has played for the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat, has been out of the NBA since early 2021, when he used an anti-semitic slur during a video game live stream. Leonard was suspended indefinitely after the incident in March 2021.12
Meyers Leonard Fined $50,000 and Suspended for Using an Anti-Semitic Slur - The New York Times.
Leonard apologized for using the term as he played a video game that was livestreaming, insisting he did not know what it meant.
Leonard had already missed most of the 2020-21 season and was expected not to see playing time until 2022 after undergoing shoulder surgery. After the clip from Leonard's gaming stream went viral, he issued an apology on his Instagram page.
Not long after the Clippers were eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, the team announced that Leonard had undergone surgery to repair a partial tear of his right ACL