An exasperated LeBron James called out Laura Ingraham on social media for what he perceived as the Fox News host's hypocrisy for supp...
An exasperated LeBron James called out Laura Ingraham on social media for what he perceived as the Fox News host's hypocrisy for supporting Drew Brees's right to political free speech after previously telling him and other black NBA players to 'shut up and dribble.'
'We are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here!' James wrote on Twitter in response to a post contrasting Ingraham's treatment of Brees, a popular white quarterback, with the way she's addressed black athletes.
Brees had been taking criticism from James and even his own New Orleans Saints teammates on Wednesday after reiterating his disapproval of NFL players protesting racist police brutality by peacefully protesting during the national anthem, calling the demonstrations 'disrespectful' to the military.
Ingraham rushed to his defense on Wednesday evening.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham (left) said in 2018 that LeBron James and other black basketball players should 'shut up and dribble' rather than criticize President Donald Trump
Drew Brees had been taking criticism from LeBron James (right) and even his own New Orleans Saints teammates on Wednesday after reiterating his disapproval of NFL players protesting racist police brutality by peacefully protesting during the national anthem, calling the demonstrations 'disrespectful' to the military
An exasperated LeBron James took aim at Laura Ingraham on social media for what he perceived as the Fox News host's hypocrisy for supporting Drew Brees's right to political free speech after previously telling him and other black NBA players to 'shut up and dribble'
Ingraham's 180 on the subject did not go unnoticed by Charges wide receiver Keenan Allen
'Well, he's allowed to have his view about what kneeling and the flag means to him,' said the conservative talk show host. I mean, he's a person. He has some worth, I imagine. I mean, this is beyond football, though. This is totalitarian conduct. This is Stalinist.'
For years Ingraham has spoken out against athletes voicing any political dissent, let alone protesting during the national anthem.
When James said President Donald Trump 'doesn't really give a f*** about the people' in 2018, she called the former NBA MVP's opinion 'unintelligible.'
'It's always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball,' she said, as quoted by NPR. 'Keep the political comments to yourselves. ... Shut up and dribble.'
James has since produced a docu-series on Showtime titled 'Shut up and dribble.'
James and Kevin Durant got a different message from Ingraham when they criticized Trump
Ex-NBA player Josh Childress seemed to suggest race played a factor in Ingraham's about-face
Ingraham's 180 on the subject did not go unnoticed.
'Laura Ingraham to LeBron and KD: 'Shut up and dribble!' read a post from Complex Sports' Twitter account. 'To Drew Brees: 'He's allowed to have an opinion.'
James responded to the Complex Sports tweet: 'If you still haven't figured out why the protesting is going on. (sic) 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 added a hashtag: '#ShutUpAndDribbleThisPowerfulBlackManComingFullSteam.'
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans called Ingraham 'f***ing disgusting'
Other athletes also weighed in, including Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen: 'Wow... so Bron and [Kevin Durant] need to shut up and dribble... but DREW BREES (white man) can have opinions... RACISM!'
Ex-NBA player Josh Childress seemed to suggest race played a factor in Ingraham's about-face: 'I wonder what changed her opinion on the matter.'
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans called Ingraham 'f***ing disgusting.'
On Wednesday James slammed Brees's claim that athlete protests during the national anthem are disrespectful to the military, saying the Saints quarterback is misinterpreting the peaceful demonstrations that began in the NFL with Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
Brees's public comments were his first following the killing of unarmed black man George Floyd, who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, sparking nationwide protests over racist police brutality - the same issue some NFL players have been protesting during the national anthem since 2016.
Demonstrators protesting Floyd's killing in New Orleans on Wednesday night were heard chanting 'f*** Drew Brees,' who had been one of the city's most celebrated residents over the last decade since winning Super Bowl XLIV.
Other Saints fans were seen burning his replica jersey.
Brees has also been criticized by Saints teammates Cameron Jordan, Michael Thomas, and Malcolm Jenkins, the latter of whom told the 41-year-old quarterback to be quiet. However, Thomas and a few other teammates have since publicly forgiven Brees.
Brees did not run away from that criticism on Thursday.
'In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country,' Brees's apology continued.
'They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that somehow I am an enemy. This could not be further from the truth, and is not an accurate reflection of my heart or my character.'
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