Silicon Valley billionaire and Golden State Warriors minority owner Chamath Palihapitiya, 45, sparks outrage after saying 'nobody cares' about China's genocide of the Uyghurs (before furiously back-peddling)

  A venture capitalist whose fund's mission is 'to advance humanity by solving the world's hardest problems' has said he doe...

 A venture capitalist whose fund's mission is 'to advance humanity by solving the world's hardest problems' has said he doesn't care about the human rights abuses facing China's Uyghur population.

Chamath Palihapitiya, who is worth $1.2billion and owns a minority stake in the NBA's Golden State Warriors, worked at Facebook before his departure in 2011 to set up his venture capital fund, Social Capital, which made $1.7billion in 2019.

But the 45 year-old Sri Lankan-born billionaire is now coming under fire for stating bluntly how he does not care how China's Uyghur Muslims have been abused.

His subsequent apology via a tweet was also roundly attacked after with critics deeming it mealy-mouthed. The Golden State Warriors also distanced themselves from Palihapitiya in a statement which didn't mention the Uyghurs.

That sparked yet more criticism that the NBA is concerned about kowtowing to China rather than standing up to human rights' abuses. 

Human Rights Watch estimates that Chinese authorities have detained as many as one million Uyghur Muslims in 're-education' camps where they have been subjected to human-rights abuses including slave labor, rape and forced sterilizations. 

Palihapitiya - whose firm Social Capital channels some of its investments into healthcare projects - made the comments while speaking on an episode of his technology podcast, All-In.

'Nobody cares about it, nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs,' the Silicon Valley billionaire said.  

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom, an outspoken advocate for Uyghurs and a major critic of China's government in Beijing, immediately attacked Palihapitiya for his comments.   

'When @NBA says we stand for justice, don't forget there are those who sell their soul for money & business like [Palihapitiya] the owner of @warriors, who says ''Nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs,''' Freedom tweeted.  'When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen.'

'Shame!' 

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Silicon Valley billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya has said he doesn't care about China's human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims in the country

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Chamath Palihapitiya (center) attends a Golden State Warriors game with wife Brigette Lau and friends in April 2016. He is said to own around 10 percent of the team

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Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom, an outspoken human rights advocate, immediately attacked Palihapitiya for his comments: 'When @NBA says we stand for justice, don't forget there are those who sell their soul for money & business like [Palihapitiya] the owner of @warriors, who says ''Nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs... When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen. Shame!'

When challenged by his co-hosts about his statement, Palihapitiya, who split from his wife Brigette Lau in 2018, only dug in further. 

'Nobody cares about it, nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs,' he insisted. 'Of all the things I care about it is below my line.' 

'You bring it up because you really care, and I think that's nice that you care, the rest of us don't care,' he told fellow host Jason Calacanis. 

'It's a hard ugly truth that registers below my line. I care about the fact that our economy could turn on a dime if China invades Taiwan. I care about climate change. I care about America's decrepit healthcare infrastructure, but if you're asking me if I care about a segment of a class of people in another country, not until we can take care of ourselves will I prioritize them.

'I think a lot of people believe that and I'm sorry if that's a hard truth to hear but every time I say that I'm caring about the Uyghurs I'm really just lying if I don't really care, so I'd rather not lie to you and tell you the truth. It's not a priority for me.'

But Palihapitiya wasn't finished as he continued with his rant: 'Until we actually clean up our own house, the idea that we step outside of our borders with us sort of like morally virtue signaling about somebody else's human rights track record is deplorable,' Palihapitiya said.

'Human rights in the US is way more important to me than human rights anywhere else on the globe,' said Palihapitiya, who was born in Sri Lanka, adding that he felt a  responsibility to fix the issues of his adopted country. 

His comments were quickly seized upon, leading to Palihapitiya to put a statement online in a desperate attempt to clarify his comments saying he recognized that he came across as 'lacking empathy.' 

'Important issues deserve nuanced discussions. Some clarifying comments,' he tweeted. 

'In re-listening to this week's podcast, I recognize that I come across as lacking empathy. I acknowledge that entirely. As a refugee, my family fled a country with its own set of human rights issues so this is something that is very much a part of my lived experience. To be clear, my belief is that human rights matter, whether in China, the United States, or elsewhere. Full stop,' he wrote. 

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Palihapitiya had three children with his first wife Brigette Lau, before the pair divorced in 2018. He is now dating Italian pharmaceutical heiress, model, and CEO of Dompe Holdings, Nathalie Dompe - with whom he has had a child. Pictured: Palihapitiya with Dompe on December 10, 2018, at the Third Annual Berggruen Prize Gala at the New York Public Library

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'Nobody cares about it, nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs,' he said during his podcast. Palihapitiya went on to clarify his view in detail

Chamath Palihapitiya has issued a statement saying that he 'lacked empathy' while making his comments on the podcast 

Neither his original comments nor his follow-up statement - which was accused of sounding like it had been written by a PR representative - sat well with users on Twitter.  

'The sad part is this took 10 hours and tens of thousands of $$ in crisis comms to help write,' said Matt Gormon in response to the statement. 

'Wow, @Chamarth dumping his pro-genocide statement faster than he sells out of his SPACs,' wrote business journalist Ed Carson.

'Absolutely lacks empathy, and involving the most intense mental gymnastics too,' tweeted author Rebecca Downs.

'Say Uyghurs, you whatabouting coward,' demanded Noah Blum. 

'What a pathetic attempt at ... not even sure what you're trying to do, given the video,' another Twitter user wrote.  

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Neither his original comments nor his follow-up statement sat will with users on Twitter

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The San Francisco basketball team, of which Palihapitiya owns 10 percent having invested $25 million in 2010, issued their own statement in response to their co-owner's comments

The San Francisco-based basketball team, of which Palihapitiya owns 10 percent having invested $25 million in 2010, issued their own statement in response to their co-owner's comments, distancing themselves from him.

'As a limited investor who has no day-to-day operating functions with the Warriors, Mr. Palihapitiya does not speak on behalf of our franchise, and his views certainly don't reflect those of our organization,' the statement read. 

Palihapitiya who is currently the founder and CEO of Social Capital, which specializes in technology startups, providing seed funding, venture capital and private equity - and has a focus on healthcare investments, as well as the education, financial services, and technology sectors 

Estimated to have a net worth of $1.2billion, Palihapitiya began his career working at Burger King before graduating from Lisgar Collegiate Institute at the age of 17.

Palihapitiya earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo and began his career as a derivatives trader with BMO Nesbitt Burns before movign to Silicon Valley in 2004, to take a role as vice president of AOL - the youngest person to ever earn this role in the history of the company. 

Palihapitiya was also an early executive at Facebook, working at the company between 2007 and 2011.

It was after this stint that he set up the Social+Capital Partnership - later Social Capital - which has allowed him to invest in a number of companies such as Slack; Glooko, Inc; Yammer; Second Market and Box. 

In 2019, Palihapitiya helped take Virgin Galactic public later selling his personal stake in Virgin Galactic for around US$213 million. He continues to serve as Chairman of Virgin Galactic's Board of Directors, although a petition has been launched advocating for his removal. 

Palihapitiya had three children with his first wife Brigette Lau, before the pair divorced in 2018 and is now dating Italian pharmaceutical heiress, model, and CEO of Dompe Holdings, Nathalie Dompe - with whom he has had a child.  

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In 2019, Palihapitiya helped take Virgin Galactic public later selling his personal stake Virgin Galactic for around US$213 million. He continues to serve as Chairman of Virgin Galactic's Board of Directors and is pictured here with Virgin Galactic co-founder Sir Richard Branson

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Human Rights Watch estimates that Chinese authorities have detained as many as one million Uyghur Muslims in 're-education' camps where they have been subjected to human-rights abuses including slave labor, rape and forced sterilizations (file photo)

The Biden administration has described the abuse of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities in the region as 'widespread, state-sponsored forced labor' and 'mass detention.'

Last month, the White House announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing 'ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.' 

Biden also signed a bill that banned the importing of goods from the Xinjiang region of China unless it could be proven they were not produced with forced labor. 

China denies all allegations of abuse against its Uyghur population. 

The NBA's standing in China, which has been its most important overseas market, deteriorated sharply after late 2019 when then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and Beijing's state television pulled some NBA games off its channels.

The team was dropped by the Chinese streaming giant Tencent, which also ended live broadcasts of the Philadelphia 76ers games when Morey switched franchises.  

Anti-NBA protests followed in both mainland China, where fans took aim at LeBron James, and among Hong Kong protesters. 

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Kanter's remarks, and the backlash, come two years after then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey's comments in support of the democracy movement in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong prompted state broadcaster CCTV to cease broadcasting NBA games and e-commerce vendors to remove listings for Rockets merchandise

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Hundreds of basketball fans gather in Wan Chai Southorn Playground to show support of the Houston Rockets general manager, Daryl Morey and league's commissioner, Adam Silver on October 15, 2019 in Hong Kong, China

In the US, Chinese-American fans began wearing pro-Hong Kong apparel to preseason games while protesting the regime in Beijing. Similarly, the anti-Beijing protestors in Hong Kong also took aim at James, using his image in memes and burning his jersey. 

In the end, the NBA lost about $400 million in Chinese business, according to league commissioner Adam Silver, and faced criticism in the US for its perceived kowtowing to the communist regime.  

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Freedom's 'shut up & dribble' comment refers to a documentary series produced by James about athletes' role in national politics. The Showtime series' name was derived from Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who said James should 'shut up and dribble' rather than share opinions on issues of race and politics. In addition to his message for James, Kanter's tweet also included photos of some new sneakers that he's expected to wear at upcoming games. One of the custom-made shoes designed by anti-Beijing artist Baidiucao reads 'Hey [King], still researching and getting educated?'

Morey was never punished by the NBA.   

Freedom, the Celtics center who changed his name from Enes Kanter when he became a US citizen last year, has continuously criticized the Chinese government, Nike, and brand spokespeople LeBron James and Michael Jordan over its treatment of the Uyghur people.  

'Money over Morals for the ''King,''' Kanter tweeted on November 18, referencing James's nickname. 'Sad & disgusting how these athletes pretend they care about social justice.

'They really do ''shut up & dribble'' when Big Boss [Chinese flag emoji] says so,' Kanter continued. 'Did you educate yourself about the slave labor that made your shoes or is that not part of your research?' 

Kanter has also worn sneakers designed by anti-Beijing artist Baidiucao criticizing China, James, Nike and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

James reportedly has a lifetime contact with Nike worth more than $1 billion, his business partner Maverick Carter told GQ in 2016.

Kanter has even offered to tour the country's 'slave labor camps' with James, Jordan, and Nike co-founder Phil Knight.

'To the owner of @Nike, Phil Knight,' Kanter tweeted last month. 'How about I book plane tickets for us and let's fly to China together. We can try to visit these SLAVE labor camps and you can see it with your own eyes.'

Using their twitter handles, Kanter added that James and Jordan — two of Nike's most recognized spokespeople — are 'welcome to come too.'

Kanter ended the post with the hashtag: #EndUyghurForcedLabor. 

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Last month, the White House announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing 'ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses.'