LeBron James rebuked Fox News host Laura Ingraham for an apparent double standard about athletes speaking out on social issues.
The NBA star, who is black, took exception with Ingraham’s defense of NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who is white, after he said he would not support players who kneel during the national anthem, reacting to a tweet which contained a clip of the Fox News host saying in 2018 James should “shut up and dribble” when he criticized President Trump.
“If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here? And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see change,” James said, referring to the George Floyd protests.
If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here???? ??♂️. And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see https://t.co/e4pJ0PvwJj
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 4, 2020
James’s brand account, “Uninterrupted,” repackaged Ingraham’s “shut up and dribble” remark for a 30-second ad making a statement about why athletes should not stay silent about social issues. It also bore the hashtag “#blacklivesmatter.”
We will never just “shut up and dribble” #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/98tUB3IxjM
— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) June 4, 2020
Ingraham defended Brees on Monday after he said he could not support players kneeling during the national anthem.
“He’s allowed to have his view about what kneeling and the flag means to him. He’s a person,” Ingraham said, adding, “This is beyond football.”
In the face of backlash, Brees apologized.
“I would like to apologize to my friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone I hurt with my comments yesterday. In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused,” he said.
Ingraham addressed James’s response on her show Thursday night.
“Every American has the God-given right to speak his or her own mind on any issue,” Ingraham said. “And I think in order to heal and shed light on gross injustices, our country needs more dialogue, not less. And we need more respect, not retribution. Right now, Americans, I think most of them, are looking for reconciliation. That means politicians, police, and even cultural figures all working together. All of us.”
