Celebs Urge Amazon, Barnes & Noble To Pull Antisemitic Book From Their Platforms

In an open letter, celebs urge Amazon and Barnes & Noble to remove an antisemitic book and doc from their shelves following a tweet from NBA star Kyrie Irving.

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Amazon, Barnes & Noble Called On To Remove Antisemitic Book

Major entertainment industry figures like Mila Kunis, Debra Messing, and Mayim Bialik are among those who’ve sent an open letter to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, calling on them to pull a controversial, antisemitic book and documentary from their platforms.

The book and doc in question, Hebrews to N**roes: Wake up Black America, was recently promoted on

Twitter by influential NBA star Kyrie Irving, who has since been suspended.

The open letter writes that the book and doc include “numerous anti-semitic tropes and conspiracy theories that have no basis in fact, including manufactured Hitler quotes, false claims of Jewish power and control, that the Jewish people fabricated the Holocaust, and that the Jewish people are fake Jews.”

Since Irving’s tweet, the book has become a bestseller on both Amazon and Barnes & Noble and the doc has seen a significant spike in viewership on Amazon, the letter says.

Mayim Bialik, Mila Kunis, and Debra Messing among signees in open letting to Amazon and Barnes & Noble
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“At a time in America where there are more per capita hate crimes against Jews than any other minority, overwhelmingly more religious-based hate crimes against the Jewish people than any other religion, and more hate crimes against the Jewish people in New York than any other minority, where a majority of American Jews live, it is unacceptable to allow this type of hate to foment on your platforms,” the letter writes.

The open letter accuses both major companies of “refusing to act” and instead profiting from the hate the book and doc have proliferated “to an impressionable public that may be susceptible to its propaganda.”

Consequences for Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn Nets player Kyrie Irving, NBA
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After refusing to give a direct apology for promoting the harmful book and documentary, Irving was suspended by the Brooklyn Nets without pay for five games.

In a statement, the Nets said Irving is suspended because he did not “unequivocally say he has no antisemitic beliefs, nor acknowledge specific hateful material in the film. This was not the first time he had the opportunity – but failed – to clarify.”

“Such failure to disavow antisemitism when given a clear opportunity to do so is deeply disturbing, is against the values of our organization, and constitutes conduct detrimental to the team,” the Nets said. “Accordingly, we are of the view that [Irving] is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets.”

Along with not having played a game since Nov. 1, Irving’s relationship with Nike has also been suspended (likely permanently). Nike said about the situation, “At Nike, we believe there is no place for hate speech and we condemn any form of antisemitism. We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the situation and its impact on everyone.”


As of now, Amazon and Barnes & Noble have not issued statements addressing the open letter. The book has been removed from Barnes & Noble’s site, but both the book and doc remain available for streaming and purchase on Amazon.

You can read the full letter here. Additionally, if you’d like to add your name to the letter, please click here.

We feel it goes without saying that all of us here at Bookstr condemn any and all forms of antisemitism. The Bookstr team continuously strives to provide a safe, inclusive space where book lovers from all walks of life can be themselves freely, without judgment or prejudice. All are welcome, accepted, and appreciated here.

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