Rex Chapman, a former NBA player who became a drug addict and convicted criminal, launched a vicious tirade against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Thursday that was deemed by many to be racist.
Chapman, who had a show on CNN+ before the streaming service was abruptly canceled because it was a total failure, began his attacks on Thomas by sharing a 2018 video from when Thomas “attended the graduation event of Christendom college students along with Late Justice Antonin Scalia’s son.”
Chapman, who is white, complained, “Not another person of color in the picture.”
The time Justice Clarence Thomas attended the graduation event of Christendom college students along with Late Justice Antonin Scalia's son. 2018.
Not another person of color in the picture…pic.twitter.com/ErWyeVtaLc
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) July 1, 2022
“I think the thing I think is most funny about this is that these white kids and their parents view this as their entry into black America,” Chapman continued. “Clarence Thomas would last 20-30 seconds in an NBA locker room.”
Chapman then complained that Thomas never came to watch him play professional basketball.
“Why have you never seen Clarence Thomas at an NBA game? As in — ever?” he continued. “Bill Clinton used to come to our games in Landover with the Bullets. Clarence Thomas – never.”
Notable responses to Chapman included:
Dan McLaughlin, National Review: “Because he’s 74 years old? He’d last longer than you’d last in a Supreme Court argument.”
Because he's 74 years old?
He'd last longer than you'd last in a Supreme Court argument. https://t.co/NDbUwag1vq
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) July 1, 2022
Mike Cernovich, political commentator: “I don’t know what this means but seems racist.”
I don’t know what this means but seems racist. https://t.co/LvEkKQ9oyP
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 1, 2022
Zaid Jilani, reporter at News Nation: “Thomas is from South Georgia, grew up under brutal poverty and overcame discrimination to become a Yale Law grad and SCOTUS judge. I think he has the life experience to get along with people of all types.”
Thomas is from South Georgia, grew up under brutal poverty and overcame discrimination to become a Yale Law grad and SCOTUS judge. I think he has the life experience to get along with people of all types.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) July 1, 2022
CNN political commentator Scott Jennings responded to a separate tweet from Chapman that attacked Thomas and his wife, who is white, and tried to compare them to Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is black, and his wife, who is white.
Fox News noted that the tweet making the comparisons between the two couples was an apparent reference to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plans.
“Additionally, Chapman claimed that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is planning on filling Thomas’ seat on the Supreme Court with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, highlighting how both Thomas and Cameron have White spouses,” the report said.
“Probably the most racist tweet you’ll see today, courtesy @RexChapman,” Jennings wrote.
Probably the most racist tweet you’ll see today, courtesy @RexChapman. https://t.co/azrgL0bowr
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 1, 2022
Jennings also commented about Chapman’s tweet about Thomas not lasting in an NBA locker room, writing: “@RexChapman casually daydreaming about a black Supreme Court Justice being murdered in an NBA locker room.”
.@RexChapman casually daydreaming about a black Supreme Court Justice being murdered in an NBA locker room. pic.twitter.com/2XrihOx9Ca
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 1, 2022