The Chicago Bulls officially waived guard Jaden Ivey on Tuesday following social media posts in which the player criticized the National Basketball Association's Pride Month initiatives. The decision followed a video Ivey posted to Instagram expressing religious objections to the league's inclusivity celebrations.
In the footage, the 24-year-old athlete described the NBA’s Pride events as an effort to “celebrate unrighteousness.” Citing his Christian faith, Ivey quoted scripture and questioned why he could not "speak righteousness" while the league promoted values he found contradictory to his beliefs.
The Bulls organization formally listed the reason for the roster move as “conduct detrimental to the team.” While the franchise did not elaborate on the specific policy violations, the timing of the release suggests a direct link to the controversial livestreams.
The story gained rapid momentum after being shared by the social media account LibsOfTikTok, which framed the waiver as a targeted punishment for Ivey’s religious expression. The post has since generated over 1.7 million views, sparking intense debate across digital platforms regarding the limits of player speech.
Reaction to the move has been sharply divided along cultural lines. Conservative commentators and faith-based groups have labeled the release "Christophobic," while others have defended the Bulls’ right to maintain team standards and professional conduct for public figures.
Ivey had only recently joined the Bulls in a trade-deadline deal from the Detroit Pistons in February. At the time of his release, he was already sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a recurring knee injury and had appeared in just four games for Chicago.
The incident has become a significant flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation regarding corporate policies versus individual religious freedom. Neither the NBA league office nor the administration of President Donald Trump has issued a formal statement on the matter as of Tuesday afternoon.
Ivey now enters unrestricted free agency, though it remains unclear if another franchise will sign him given his injury history and recent off-court controversies. His mother, Niele Ivey, remains the head coach of the Notre Dame women's basketball program.