New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s organization focused on combating antisemitism condemned Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua for performing an antisemitic dance on social media. 

After Kraft’s foundation and other leading figures spoke out, Nacua offered an apology Thursday afternoon.

“We must all reject the antisemitic tropes, dances and stereotypes shared between wide receiver Puka Nacua and [online streamer] Adin Ross,” Adam Katz, president of the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, told Jewish Insider. 

During Ross’ livestream on Tuesday, he taught the wide receiver an antisemitic touchdown celebration, which ended with Nacua looking into the camera and rubbing his hands together — a stereotypical movement indicating greed that Ross’ fans refer to as his “iconic Jewish dance.”

Ross then asked Nacua to perform the celebratory dance during the Rams’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, to which Nacua agreed. 

After facing significant backlash, Nacua issued an apology on Thursday, stating that at the time of the livestream, he had “no idea this act was antisemitic in nature and perpetrated harmful stereotypes against Jewish people.” 

“I deeply apologize to anyone who was offended by my actions as I do not stand for any form of racism, bigotry or hate of another group of people.”  

The incident came as Jewish communities are still reeling after a mass shooting killed 15 at a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s Bondi Beach.

“The Blue Square Alliance Against Hate recognizes the power of sports to bring people together across divides and around the world,” Katz told JI. “It’s imperative that we continue to use these moments to spotlight the best of humanity, and inspire, educate and create allyship within sports.”

The co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism are urging Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to act more forcefully to protect Australia’s Jewish community and implement months-old recommendations from the country’s antisemitism envoy.

In a letter to Albanese sent Monday, the ten lawmakers said that the attack, which killed at least 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration, “comes in the wake of the Australian Jewish community repeatedly raising the alarm and urging swift action to counter the spread of unchecked antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations occurring in Australia for far too long.”

The lawmakers said that there have been repeated “warning signs,” including firebombings of synagogues, graffiti, assaults and threats of violence, which “have now led to a tragic reality.”

They noted that Jillian Segal, the Australian special envoy to combat antisemitism, released 49 recommendations to be implemented across a range of institutions in July, and questioned what the Australian government has done to enact that plan and how it will protect the Jewish community going forward.

The lawmakers called on Albanese to “move swiftly and decisively” to implement those recommendations.

“While we appreciate Australia joining the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism led by the United States, we urge your government to implement and actively utilize this document and its recommendations within,” the letter continues. “We also encourage you to further insulate Australia from malign foreign influence, like that of Iran and possibly others, which has been found to be supporting antisemitic attacks in Australia.”

The letter states that Australia’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terrorist organization “is an important first step, but it cannot be the last step if Australia is to address the antisemitism brewing at home while also thwarting collusion from abroad.”

The letter was signed by Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Dan Meuser (R-PA).