Meyers Leonard’s use of an anti-Semitic slur on a live Twitch stream earlier this week resulted in an outcry of backlash against the 29-year-old Miami Heat center and that fallout continued with his teammates and coaches on Wednesday.
Among those teammates was Udonis Haslem, who said he has Jewish friends who call him Udonis Haslem-berg.
Haslem acknowledged that Leonard, who was suspended indefinitely by the team, has never uttered such offensive words or “anything of any nature like that” around him but he expressed there should not be any tolerance for that kind of behavior.
“We can’t tolerate that here,” he said, per Sun Sentinel reporter Ira Winderman. “And right is right and wrong is wrong.”
In addition to Haslem, head coach Erik Spoelstra also voiced his disappointment.
“A lot of emotions. Very disappointed,” he said. “Those words are extremely hurtful. We don’t condone that. There’s just so much more that needs to be done.”
Spoelstra added he has spoken to Meyers, who has issued a public apology.
“He feels really bad about it,” Spoelstra said. “It doesn’t matter the intent. It’s just not right. … There are consequences to words.”
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