The Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James faced continued backlash over his response to deleting a tweet he posted that included a photograph of a police officer that saved a black girl from being stabbed and said, “YOU’RE NEXT,” with an hourglass emoji.
The tweet sparked widespread pushback against the NBA star with many claiming that he was putting a target on the back of the police officer. Backlash was so severe that James deleted the tweet shortly after posting it, but not before tens of thousands of people slammed him online, including many notable figures.
“ANGER does [sic] any of us any good and that includes myself!” James said. “Gathering all the facts and educating does though! My anger still is here for what happened that lil girl. My sympathy for her family and may justice prevail!”
“I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police,” James continued. “I took the tweet down because its being used to create more hate -This isn’t about one officer. it’s about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY.”
Scores of political and sports commentators slammed James over his non-apology and numerous memes mocking James went viral on social media.
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 22, 2021
LeBron James when a cop keeps someone from getting stabbed pic.twitter.com/y1QMZau2DR
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) April 22, 2021
OFFICER: *saves a black life from a knifing*
LEBRON: pic.twitter.com/Bne7izPIWG
— pub (@smubpublius) April 21, 2021
#LeBronJames pic.twitter.com/HAoLQCxpIj
— McMurphy Memes (@mcmurphy_pat) April 22, 2021
— ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴀʀ ᴍᴇᴍᴇꜱ (@grandoldmemes) April 22, 2021
In honor of deep thinker LeBron James, here was his takeaway from “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” when he was asked to review the book he claimed to be reading. I don’t know how I missed this last year. Enjoy. Very enlightening book review: pic.twitter.com/MpvLPXJTwB
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 22, 2021
Top comments from political and sports commentators included:
Clay Travis, Outkick host: “This dude is the biggest fraud on the planet. The fact that the sports media has spent decades protecting him is embarrassing.”
This dude is the biggest fraud on the planet. The fact that the sports media has spent decades protecting him is embarrassing.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 22, 2021
Andy Ngo, journalist: “Ignorance, low impulse control and power form such a toxic, deadly combination frequently seen in the American activist class.”
Ignorance, low impulse control and power form such a toxic, deadly combination frequently seen in the American activist class. https://t.co/mUCBLW9Wsl
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) April 22, 2021
Becket Adams, columnist: “It said ‘YOU’RE NEXT’ with a picture of a lone police officer. Yes, it’s our fault for thinking it was a targeted attack as opposed to a general plea for more ‘accountability.'”
it said "YOU'RE NEXT" with a picture of a lone police officer.
yes, it's our fault for thinking it was a targeted attack as opposed to a general plea for more "accountability." https://t.co/hagmWkkHi4
— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) April 22, 2021
Ben Shapiro, Editor Emeritus, The Daily Wire: “You’re an out-and-out liar on the state of policing in America and don’t give a damn who pays for those lies. That’s why you posted the lying tweet in the first place. And now you’re making excuses for taking it down. But keep cashing those checks from China, bro.”
But keep cashing those checks from China, bro.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) April 22, 2021
Jason Whitlock, Outkick host: “Black teenage girl tried to stab a black teenage girl. 7-year-old black girl gunned down at McDonald’s drive-thru. Silence. No tweets. You’re not tired of young black people killing each other. Silence. No desperation. How come?”
Black teenage girl tried to stab a black teenage girl. 7-year-old black girl gunned down at McDonald's drive-thru. Silence. No tweets. You're not tired of young black people killing each other. Silence. No desperation. How come? https://t.co/bCH5bTOxzV
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) April 22, 2021
T.J. Moe, athlete: “The most physically gifted person to ever exist plays the victim every time he gets a chance. He makes a stunningly brain dead tweet, but he’s the victim, guys.”
The most physically gifted person to ever exist plays the victim every time he gets a chance.
He makes a stunningly brain dead tweet, but he’s the victim, guys. https://t.co/o3WgovJabQ
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) April 22, 2021
Jeff Hecht, athlete: “What does systemic accountability have to do with this incident you highlighted in your earlier (deleted) tweet? This officer is a Hero. He saved lives. He saved young black lives. This is the type of super cop you hope shows up when you or your loved ones call 911.”
What does systemic accountability have to do with this incident you highlighted in your earlier (deleted) tweet?
This officer is a Hero. He saved lives. He saved young black lives. This is the type of super cop you hope shows up when you or your loved ones call 911. https://t.co/L1TqUBRuZU— Jeff Hecht (@JeffHecht24) April 22, 2021
Dave Rubin, podcast host: “Hey Lebron, former NBA fan here, haven’t watched a game in years because of this nonsense. If you care about facts, you may want to retweet this information about fatal shootings. Police killed over double the unarmed whites than black people in 2019.”
Hey Lebron, former NBA fan here, haven’t watched a game in years because of this nonsense.
If you care about facts, you may want to retweet this information about fatal shootings. Police killed over double the unarmed whites than black people in 2019. https://t.co/0L8BjmKqKv https://t.co/O9I80vlwuJ pic.twitter.com/XQif9DJiCM
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) April 22, 2021
Jarome Bell, political candidate: “.@KingJames – That “lil girl” wasn’t that little. The lil girl got shot at the McDonalds drive through the other day was “lil” though. And innocent. But you were silent.”
.@KingJames – That "lil girl" wasn't that little.
The lil girl got shot at the McDonalds drive through the other day was "lil" though.
And innocent.
But you were silent. https://t.co/pULwlaVc1L pic.twitter.com/cZioaTYlio
— Jarome Bell (@JaromeBellVA) April 22, 2021
Lenny Dykstra, athlete: “On behalf of pro athletes, current and former, I apologize for how #LeBronJames just showed his inner Maxine Waters and made a very real, ongoing threat to the life of the officer who quickly acted to prevent a knife attack from becoming worse. Many of us appreciate what LEOs do!”
On behalf of pro athletes, current and former, I apologize for how #LeBronJames just showed his inner Maxine Waters and made a very real, ongoing threat to the life of the officer who quickly acted to prevent a knife attack from becoming worse. Many of us appreciate what LEOs do!
— Lenny Dykstra (@LennyDykstra) April 21, 2021
Jesse Lee Patterson, podcast host: “LeBron James is really dumb. Shut up and dribble, man.”
LeBron James is really dumb. Shut up and dribble, man. https://t.co/hqiYJ8Hiwy
— Jesse Lee Peterson (@JLPtalk) April 22, 2021