Footage of NBA player and Twitch streamer Meyers Leonard using an antisemitic slur while streaming Call of Duty went viral recently, prompting him to apologize. Since then, his team the Miami Heat has issued a statement saying that he’s off the team indefinitely.
“The Miami HEAT vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech”, the team statement says. “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.
“Meyers Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely. The Miami HEAT will cooperate with the NBA while it conducts its investigation.”
NBA spokesman Mike Bass 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.”
Meanwhile, Leonard has also been dropped by several of his channel’s sponsors, with Astro Gaming, as well as Origin PC and Scuf Gaming (both owned by Corsair) all announcing the end of their working relationships with him.
Esports organization FaZe Clan has also distanced itself from Leonard, writing on Twitter that, “We were incredibly disappointed to hear Meyers’ stream today. FaZe does not tolerate hate speech or discriminatory language of any kind. While Meyers is not a member of FaZe, we are cutting ties with him.”