There are times when players make the headlines for the wrong reasons. Such was the case with Meyers Leonard, the center for the Miami Heat. Recently, Leonard made the headlines due to his video gaming, though not in the way that you would think. On a live Twitch stream, Meyers Leonard used a derogatory term towards Jewish people while playing Call of Duty.
Meyers Leonard is shown yelling at his opponents and eventually uses the slur “K***” in the video down below. This is not a good look for an NBA player.
Meyers Leonard says racial slurs while playing CoD pic.twitter.com/WHwUnbV0pR
— Main Team (@MainTeamSports) March 9, 2021
Due to his transgression, there were some immediate consequences. One of the first ones that we’ve heard about is the cancellation of his gaming sponsorship. It seems fitting to terminate a professional relationship when the other party uses hate speech.
SLATER SCOOP: Meyers Leonard’s gaming sponsorship has been cancelled, a source tells me.
The computer company, ORIGIN PC, made the move after the Heat player used an anti-Semitic slur online.
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) March 9, 2021
Shams Charania reported that the NBA was looking into the matter as well, while Marc Stein reported a team-specific review of the video by the Miami Heat. Needless to say, Leonard’s actions have been swiftly met with repercussions.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass statement on Meyers Leonard, who said an anti-Semitic slur on a video game stream: “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.”
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 9, 2021
The Heat are reviewing video of center Meyers Leonard using an anti-Semitic slur earlier today while live-streaming his video-game play via Twitch, according to a team spokesman.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 9, 2021
Hate speech shouldn’t be tolerated in the NBA, and it is good that the league is acting swiftly in order to combat the situation. The result of Meyers Leonard’s usage of the slur is punishment, and that’s how it should be for everyone. It is good to see that the league is continuing to condemn all forms of hate speech.
