Heat’s Meyers Leonard Uses Anti-Semitic Slur During Call of Duty Live Stream

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard used an anti-Semitic slur while playing Call of Duty during a live stream.

Leonard can be heard calling another player a “f–king k–e b—h” (warning: video contains profanity and an anti-Semitic slur):

The 29-year-old has built a following through his streaming sessions on Twitch and announced a partnership with FaZe Clan in June 2019. 

Leonard’s use of the slur comes amid an increase in anti-Semitism in the United States. The Anti-Defamation League reported acts of anti-Semitism began to increase in 2016 after dropping for almost 15 years. In 2019, anti-Jewish hate crimes increased by 14 percent and reported anti-Semitic incidents across the U.S. increased by 12 percent to 2,107, the highest number recorded since the ADL began documenting incidents in 1979.

According to the American Jewish Committee, an FBI Hate Crime Statistics Report found that 60 percent of religious-based hate crimes in 2019 targeted Jewish people, who make up just 2 percent of the total population. Anti-Semitic hate crimes and acts of anti-Semitism are also underreported—AJC found that 76 percent of American Jews don’t report the anti-Semitism they face.

Leonard drew criticism during the NBA’s restart at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, when he chose not to join his Heat teammates in kneeling during the national anthem. Players decided to kneel as a way to show support for the ongoing nationwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality.

“I think I can be a beacon of light … not only for my voice or platform and action, but in everything I’m doing,” Leonard told The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears of his choice. “I certainly support Black Lives Matter. Again, I am very aware of what is going on. But I can be both. My patriotism runs deep.”