Star NBA player LeBron James has ignited another controversy, and again, the National Basketball Association and his mega-sponsors are staying silent amid the hubbub.
The four-time NBA champion has been blasted for a Twitter post to his 50 million followers in which he included an image of one of the Columbus, Ohio, police officers involved in the shooting death of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant. James’ caption read: “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.”
James has since deleted the post.
Fox News reported that it had made numerous attempts to get comment from the NBA, but so far nothing. James’ team, the Los Angeles Lakers, also didn’t respond to requests for comment.
But the Lakers did comment Tuesday following former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s conviction for murder in the George Floyd case, saying they were “encouraged” by the verdict.
“We grieve for George Floyd’s life specifically, and the multiple racial injustices that Black people face every day in this country,” the Lakers’ statement read. “We will continue to use our voice to demand that our nation live up to the promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all.”
James’ sponsors also have said nothing. “Fox News also made attempts to reach out for comment regarding the anti-cop tweet to some of James’ sponsors, including Nike, Pepsi, General Motors, Beats Electronics and Walmart, but none have answered as of Thursday morning,” Fox reported.
James later explained that he sent the “you’re next” tweet out of “ANGER.”
“ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself!” he tweeted (presumably he meant to say “anger does not do any of us any good”). “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!”
ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself! 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! 🙏🏾✊🏾🤎👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
He later added, “I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. 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.”
I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. 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
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
James was ripped on social media for his “you’re next” tweet.
“If the officer hadn’t shot the girl with the knife, the other girl would have died. You’re making it a little to[o] obvious that you don’t care about black on black crime because it doesn’t fit your narrative,” wrote one person on Twitter.
If the officer hadn’t shot the girl with the knife, the other girl would have died. You’re making it a little to obvious that you don’t care about black on black crime because it doesn’t fit your narrative.
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 22, 2021
“Serious questions,” wrote another person. “Why don’t you care about the life of the Black woman wearing pink in this phot whom Ma’Khia Bryant was attempting to stab when she was shot by the officer? Do you think that police officers SHOULDN’T stop stabbings that happen right in front of them?”
Serious questions.
Why don't you care about the life of the Black woman wearing pink in this phot whom Ma’Khia Bryant was attempting to stab when she was shot by the officer?
Do you think that police officers SHOULDN'T stop stabbings that happen right in front of them? pic.twitter.com/mg5WlBiX1E
— Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) April 21, 2021
“Where is your anger that she was attempting to stab multiple other girls. Where’s your anger at her deadbeat mother and no-show baby daddy who had her in a foster home? Where’s you anger at loud mouth rich people like yourself that do nothing to clean up or mentor the inner city?” wrote another.
Where is your anger that she was attempting to stab multiple other girls. Where’s your anger at her deadbeat mother and no-show baby daddy who had her in a foster home? Where’s you anger at loud mouth rich people like yourself that do nothing to clean up or mentor the inner city?
— Jonathan T Gilliam (@JGilliam_SEAL) April 22, 2021