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NBA superstar LeBron James is facing a wave of criticism after he wrote off a tweet sent by an NBA executive in support of the Hong Kong protestors as “uneducated” and “misinformed.”
“We do have freedom of speech, but there can be a lot of negatives that come with that too,” James said when asked about Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey during a pre-game interview on Monday night.
LeBron James rips Daryl Morey, says Morey was uneducated. Says, “We do have freedom of speech, but there can be a lot of negatives that come with that too.” Really. pic.twitter.com/ZTw6a3FZ5n
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 15, 2019
James later said he was critical of Morey’s decision to tweet about the issue, not the opinion he expressed in the tweet.
“Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk about that,” James tweeted after the game.
Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk About that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
“My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen,” the Lakers superstar added. “Could have waited a week to send it.”
My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
The clarification did not stop multitudes of people from criticizing James, Twitchy reports:
Reminder that this was the extent of Daryl Morey's tweet pic.twitter.com/hmSw3M1TaL
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) October 15, 2019
Pro-Democracy Hong Kong Protesters Unload On LeBron: ‘Brainwashed’ Or ‘Bought’?: NBA superstar LeBron James’ rebuke of Houston Rockets’ General Manager Daryl Morey for advocating for Hong Kong’s freedom has been met with strong pushback from… https://t.co/8zQHLlyO7k pic.twitter.com/HSd3PDtAOh
— The Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) October 15, 2019
"Maybe you don't know it, but your news conference on Monday night played right into the hands of Chinese government propaganda and undermined the values you espouse in other facets of your life and public persona," @DanWolken of @usatodaysports writes. https://t.co/5AjmBcVvmT
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) October 15, 2019
lol there's no confusion https://t.co/YrtiTN2Y3Y
— your pal andy (@andylevy) October 15, 2019
We are so sorry for your pain. Not as sorry as those imprisoned in Chinese re-education camps, but pretty sorry.
— Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL THOUGHT LEADER & STAR (@yesnicksearcy) October 15, 2019
What happened to Lebron James? When Laura Ingraham told him to "shut up and dribble" I defended him. But now he essentially tells everyone in the NBA to "shut up and dribble" because an actual tyrannical government in China is making him richer. Hypocrite @KingJames.
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) October 15, 2019
Is it elitist to point out Daryl Morey went to both Northwestern & MIT, when LeBron calls him uneducated? I feel like that’s a woke twitter move. You have to be ashamed and never mention your degrees. But seriously..I feel as though Morey is profoundly more educated on this.
— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) October 15, 2019
LeBron James now claims that he had a "difficult week" earning millions of dollars to play basketball because someone promoted freedom for Hong Kong@KingJames, do you think the millions of people locked up in China's communist concentration camps are having a good week? https://t.co/p9pMZ1a2N0
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) October 15, 2019
Would love to see prominent sports journalists — cough, @espn — call out @KingJames for his ignorance. Make it clear to viewers, especially young viewers, that Morey was right and LeBron is dead wrong.
But they won't. Because it's all about the bottom line for them, too.
— Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) October 15, 2019
LeBron clarifies his tweet isn't a critique of the substance of Morey's tweet, but the *consequences* of tweeting it while teams/personnel were abroad.
This means he also refuses to take a position on a moral layup, which is a position, anyway, and a mealy mouthed one at that. https://t.co/t2LDzYsY7i
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) October 15, 2019
This, of course, isn’t remotely what LeBron said. He called Morey misinformed and not really educated on the situation, which doesn’t jive at all with what he’s saying now. Nice walk back attempt, but no. https://t.co/q96IzG3e7A
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) October 15, 2019
Why won't you talk about the substance of Daryl Morey's tweet? Why won't you say the words, "I agree with Daryl that the people of Hong Kong should have freedom of speech and the right to protest"? https://t.co/N1pjW9boKo
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) October 15, 2019
So @KingJames says the ONE GUY who spoke up for freedom and liberty and against tyranny "wasn't educated on the issue?"
You mean, he needs to be re-educated?
This is an embarrassment. https://t.co/GWMNvu0pHi
— Larry O'Connor (@LarryOConnor) October 15, 2019
Educate us then, @KingJames. What do you know about China that we don’t? We know about the Chinese imprisonment, torture & execution of Christians and Muslims. We know about the jailing of dissenters. We know the violent threats toward Hong Kong. What are we missing, Wise One? https://t.co/tOPdHng3xm
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) October 15, 2019
Is anyone surprised by these remarks from LeBron James? It’s all about $ for him and zero loyalty. We saw how he abandoned Cleveland for Miami. Now, he’s willing to abandon America’s free speech in exchange for China’s $. https://t.co/6g3zwyEVDm
— Elizabeth Heng (@ElizabethHeng) October 15, 2019
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