Controversy Ensues After Kyrie Irving Tweets ‘My Mask Is Off,’ Clarifies It Had Nothing to Do With the Coronavirus

Brooklyn Nets‘ player Kyrie Irving caused quite a stir when he took to Twitter on Wednesday. The controversial point guard posted a simple tweet that had the Twitterverse up in arms because of the interpretation—or misinterpretation.

My mask is off. Now take yours off. No fear.

— A11Even (@KyrieIrving) September 15, 2021

Unclear of his meaning and assuming he was against the vaccine and related mandates, Twitter users had a lot to say. Fans were up in arms, possibly due to one of Irving’s previous theories on a flat earth.

But my mask protects me from falling off the edge of the earth

— Tom (@phialphasae) September 15, 2021

Dude, people not smart enough for this message, not in this COVID times

— K Jibril Bello (@docjbee) September 15, 2021

Kyrie stans swear he’s so deep, if he’s not talking about covid, then what is he talking about? Since y’all are so smart…

— Man on the Moon 🚀 (@EliteFlite) September 15, 2021

The amount of “HES NOT TALKING ABOUT COVID” comments in here like kyrie hit y’all in a group chat ahead of time to tell y’all it was a be yourself metaphor and definitely not related to any mask mandates is astounding.

— a dragon… (@MSHdragon) September 15, 2021

This was him yesterday https://t.co/pmNcjDaea6

— jerry_west_cousins_brothers_greatgrandfather (@plz_kai) September 15, 2021

*I’m a healthcare worker*

No fear = no protection for at risk groups. It’s not your own self to care for by wearing a mask. It’s those that we can help prevent getting sick and potentially dying from COVID. It’s not about you, or me, it’s about those that can get hurt by COVID

— Chase Eastman (@Literally_Chase) September 15, 2021

You may not feel the need to Explain this tweet but we as fans need you too because most of us misinterpret your words a lot of the times and the far right will definitely use this as political material FAM 🌎✌🏽 pic.twitter.com/14CHGWD9YX

— Woodboi310😀🌴🇲🇽🇺🇸✌🏽🌎🖤🖤🖤🏁🏁🏁 (@woodboi310) September 15, 2021

I just unfollowed you for this. So many people (black folks in particular) dying of COVID-19 & you have the nerve to tell them to take their masks off? Shame on you Kyrie. I really thought you were a leader. My children looked up to you. I’m truly heartbroken & done with you 💔

— Jamal Goat Murray 📋🗿🐻 (@JamalGoatMurray) September 15, 2021

Mr. Flat Earth now giving public health advice.

— The Cooler (@The__Cooler) September 15, 2021

Kyrie knows what he’s doing with this tweet 🤣

— Michael Garcia (@MichaelGar93) September 15, 2021

After all the confusion and speculation of Irving’s tweet, he came back to clarify what it meant.

“Mask off” means
You stop being something you’re not and stop lying to yourself. It’s the moment you discover the real you and can walk around with NO FEAR in a society that shows a lot of the masks people wear to hide who they truly are.

*nothing COVID rule related!! Relax 🤞🏾

— A11Even (@KyrieIrving) September 15, 2021