Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro made controversial remarks during a recent livestream with streamers Adin Ross and N3on, stating he does not believe in history older than 1950. The 25-year-old, who plays for the Heat and was born in Milwaukee, attended Whitnall High School in Greenfield before enrolling at the University of Kentucky.
During the stream, Herro was asked about the historic basketball player Wilt Chamberlain, a Hall of Fame center and one of the most dominant players in NBA history. Herro responded by saying he didn’t know what Chamberlain looked like and stated that he believed Chamberlain had scored 100 points in a single NBA game, which is a feat that is not actually supported by historical records.
As the conversation progressed, Herro made a significant claim that he did not believe in history older than 1950. When asked if he believed in events that occurred over 200 years ago, Herro responded that he did not, and went on to question whether the moon landing was a real event, suggesting it was fabricated.
Herro also cast doubt on the credibility of historical accounts regarding Christopher Columbus. He questioned how historians know that Columbus sailed west and landed in the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola, implying that these events may not be factual. His comments, which include the assertion that historians do not have proof of Columbus’s voyages, have sparked significant discussion about his understanding of history and the credibility of his statements.
Many have found Herro’s remarks to be alarming, as they suggest a fundamental misunderstanding of historical facts and the nature of factual documentation. The comments have also raised questions about the context in which they were made. Herro is known to have a humorous and often irreverent style, which has led some to believe that he may have been joking or using sarcasm. However, others argue that such comments could have a significant impact on public perception, especially given the growing importance of media literacy and critical thinking in today’s information-saturated environment.
Hundreds of thousands of people have viewed the stream, and reactions have been mixed. While some have dismissed Herro’s statements as the ramblings of a young athlete with a sense of humor, others have taken the remarks seriously, raising broader concerns about the erosion of historical literacy and the role of public figures in shaping public understanding of the past.