Jazz Guard Wright-Foreman Issues Apology For Tweet Supporting Nick Cannon
Jul 17, 2020, 11:04 AM | Updated: 11:23 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz guard Justin Wright-Foreman issued an apology for retweeting a post that expressed support for anti-Semitic comments made by entertainer Nick Cannon. Wright-Foreman retweeted the post Thursday and left it on his Twitter timeline for several hours before undoing the post. Wright-Foreman is still listed as a user who has “liked” the tweet.
On a recent podcast, Cannon, the host of Fox’s “The Masked Singer” engaged in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories associating the Rothschild family with groups privately attempting to assume global power.
Wright-Foreman retweeted the account @zdg__ which voiced support for Cannon. The account has made other anti-Semitic statements during the previous days.
“Nick cannon said nothing wrong,” The tweet read. “Everyone just sensitive and hates the truth.”
In a media call Friday, Wright-Foreman said he wasn’t well educated on the subject before commenting.
“I would like to apologize for my retweet,” Wright-Foreman said, “I wasn’t educated enough on the topic, and therefore I just wanted to say that I apologize. I did not mean to offend anybody. And those are not my beliefs and values.”
Wright-Foreman in his in rookie season with the Jazz. The guard signed a two-way contract with the team after being drafted with the 53rd pick of the 2019 NBA draft. Wright-Foreman is with the Jazz in Orlando as they work towards reopening the NBA season.
Two-way @utahjazz guard Justin Wright-Foreman shared a tweet supporting Nick Cannon amid the entertainer's anti-Semitic remarks. https://t.co/NhWkji7Ugl
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 17, 2020
The Hofstra product indicated he wasn’t familiar with Cannon’s comments before retweeting the post.
“I wasn’t knowledgeable of what [Cannon] had said or what he meant by it,” Wright-Foreman said. “So I guess I was scrolling in those by accident. And I apologize like I said I didn’t mean to offend anybody by the tweet.”
Later on Friday, Wright-Foreman tweeted another apology.
“I recently retweeted messages that supported anti-Semitic rhetoric. I am truly sorry and I did not mean to offend anyone,” Wright-Foreman posted. “I wasn’t educated enough on what was said and the ramifications. The messages I shared do not at all reflect my beliefs or values.”
I recently retweeted messages that supported anti-Semitic rhetoric. I am truly sorry and I did not mean to offend anyone. I wasn’t educated enough on what was said and the ramifications. The messages I shared do not at all reflect my beliefs or values.
— Justin Wright-Foreman (@JayWright_3) July 17, 2020
Coach Quin Snyder Before Wright-Foreman Apology
Jazz coach Quin Snyder spoke to the media before Wright-Foreman issued his apology. Snyder said the team was made aware of the comments by the two-way guard, and that both he and the team had discussed the issue with the player.
“We’ve talked to him, I’ve talked to him,” Snyder said. “I think he’s very aware, painfully aware that he made a mistake. And I think it’s something that he’s remorseful about. It won’t happen again.”
Quin Snyder on Justin Wright-Foreman's retweet supporting Nick Cannon:
"We've talked to him, I've talked to him. I think he's very aware, painfully aware that he made a mistake. And I think it's something that he's remorseful about. It won't happen again."
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 17, 2020
Snyder opened his conference call by sharing details from a meeting he had Thursday night with coaches from across the NBA to discuss social justice. The Jazz coach belongs to a committee of NBA coaches that are working to combat racism across NBA cities.
“There’s a resolve to keep this issue and conversation alive in our minds,” Snyder said.
The committee shared calendars with the coaches and players within the NBA bubble that highlight important instances of racial injustice and progress throughout the countries history.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder said the coaches had a meeting last night on social justice. "There's a resolve to keep this issue and conversation alive," Snyder said.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) July 17, 2020
“It gives us a sense of the historical problem that we’re facing and the urgency that we’re faced with,” Snyder said. “Hopefully, when this next study is published in the year whenever, every year we make progress on these areas.”
Rabbi Avremi Zippel told KSL Sports that Steve Starks, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies reached out to the community to apologize for the comments Friday.
Update: I’m happy to share that @StevenStarks just called to personally apologize on behalf of the team. I understand that more will be coming tomorow.
This is the team that we’re proud to cheer for! https://t.co/sgGE4SOorf
— Avremi Zippel (@UtahRabbi) July 17, 2020
The Jazz reopen the season on July 30 against the New Orleans Pelicans.