'LeBron Shames' Trends On Twitter After James Criticizes Morey's Hong Kong Tweet
LeBron James is getting dragged on social media after finally addressing the China controversy in the NBA, and letting everyone down in the process.
It began Monday evening when James spoke to the media after the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason game against the Golden State Warriors.
James was asked about Houston Rockets' GM Daryl Morey's tweet, which supported Hong Kong's pro-democracy protestors in China and set off a huge problem for the NBA.
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At the time the tweet was sent, James and the Lakers were in Shenzhen, China playing an exhibition game against the Brooklyn Nets at Shenzhen Universiade Center.
James, who is widely recognized as a social justice warrior and role model, condemned Morey for the message, and claimed the GM was "misinformed."
He recognized "freedom of speech," but said Morey wasn't thinking about the "ramifications" of his words.
Social media immediately blew up with criticism of James, accusing him of kowtowing to the NBA and Chinese government over financial motivations rather than recognizing the social injustices the people in China are fighting over.
"Typical backwards mind set of ignorant @KingJames and pampered elites of this league. What the hell is wrong with the @NBA and these people being paid millions and millions of dollars?" one person commented on Twitter.
James soon figured out he was getting major backlash and tried to clear up his words.
"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," he wrote to fans.
Unfortunately, it did not help and Twitter went wild with memes of James, along with the trending hashtag "LeBron Shames."
Others photoshopped James in precarious situations with Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China.
Someone even put his face on the well-known portrait of Mao Zedong, and changed the NBA star's name to "Li Bron Jiang."
LeBron's Response
James isn't standing for the criticism and fired off one last Tweet on Monday before calling it a night.
"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."
