Miami Heat Forward Meyers Leonard has been suspended indefinitely after he used an anti-semitic slur during a Twitch stream. Leonard used the slur during a stream on Monday and it circulated throughout social media the following day.
"F------ cowards, don't f------ snipe at me you f------ k--- b----," Leonard said while playing Call of Duty: Warzone.
As the clip made the rounds around Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the Heat issued a statement and removed Leonard from day-to-day activities.
"The Miami Heat vehemently condemns the use of any form of hate speech," the team stated.
"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."
***The video below contains anti-semitic slurs, profanity and video game violence***
While assessing the repercussions of his actions, Leonard issued an apology. He said that he was "deeply sorry" for his remarks and that he was "seeking out people who can help educate" him.
"I am deeply sorry for using an anti-Semitic slur during a live stream 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," Leonard said.
This is not the first time that Leonard has been in the headlines. Over the summer, he was a topic of conversation when broke with his teammates and opted to stand for the national anthem while others kneeled. Leonard claimed that he stood in honor of his brother who served in the armed services.
"I am a compassionate human being and I truly love all people. I can’t fully comprehend how our world, literally and figuratively, has turned into Black and white," Leonard said.
"There’s a line in the sand, so to speak: ‘If you’re not kneeling, you’re not with us.’ And that’s not true. I will continue to use my platform, my voice and my actions to show how much I care about the African American culture and for everyone.'”
At this time, it is unclear when or if Leonard will rejoin the team this season.
Photo Credit: Getty Images