Some sports fans are unhappy after video surfaced of LeBron James yelling during the national anthem before the season opener of the Los Angeles Lakers.
ESPN tweeted out video on Tuesday night of James shouting, “Let’s go,” while the anthem was still being sung.
LeBron is READY ? pic.twitter.com/oPAKxy7QrL
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 23, 2019
Outrage online included those who demanded James show more respect for the anthem and others who joked he would have been more respectful of the Chinese national anthem. The backlash comes as the Lakers game faced protests over James’s comments about China and free speech.
These T-shirts, approximately 13,000 of them, were printed and hauled out to downtown L.A. in a moving van and are currently being handed out on the streets surrounding Staples Center for free, hours before Lakers-Clippers tips off pic.twitter.com/snbGdd5zSG
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 23, 2019
“If this was the Chinese anthem @KingJames would have showed the proper respect,” Dave Portnoy, the head of Barstool Sports, said Tuesday on Twitter.
If this was the Chinese anthem @KingJames would have showed the proper respect https://t.co/a5yUyXo1dm
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 23, 2019
Many wanted James to wait until the anthem ended to start yelling and saw the move as a continuing of disrespect toward America.
What a classless disrespectful move to the country that gave you the opportunity to make billions of dollars @KingJames. You’re more than welcome to leave anytime you want and don’t come back. Put your hand over your heart and say thank you. https://t.co/72bihf44wu
— Turner Wintz (@19tmoney19) October 23, 2019
Hey @KingJames try going to China and disrespect their National Anthem. See how that works out for you. https://t.co/cflILth7Jt
— Somos_los_campeones! (@FrankMarro) October 23, 2019
Couldn’t have waited until after the national anthem ended…….??♂️
— Kyle Heppeard (@KyleHeppeard) October 23, 2019
* to cut off the end of the National Anthem. Fuck that guy
— Max Miller (@MaxMiller80) October 23, 2019
Wow! You aren’t supposed to yell DURING the anthem ! Show some respect or treat it like you would treat the Chinese flag @KingJames #NBAIsBack #NBATipOff #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/RqDK1b5o86
— Santagold (@mrsantagold) October 23, 2019
James came under fire earlier this month when he said Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey “wasn’t educated” when he defended Hong Kong freedom protests. He added that he believed free speech had “negative” ramifications sometimes.
After fans were furious with his response, James said he felt no obligation to talk about the issue any further. It was later reported that James had demanded NBA Commissioner Adam Silver punish Morey for supporting the Hong Kong protests.
The NBA superstar has been supportive of NFL anthem protests in the past but said in 2017 season that he would stand for the anthem.
