“Woke” NBA star LeBron James is backtracking after receiving considerable blowback for his comments about the Brittney Griner case that many took to be anti-American.
National anthem-protesting women’s basketball player Griner is currently locked up in Russia after pleading guilty to drugs charges last week.
After publicly trashing the United States, Griner is now desperate to return home as she’s facing ten years in a Russian prison.
Despite the grim outlook for Griner’s case, James provoked a backlash after suggesting that she should consider not returning to America.
He claimed that the American people don’t have “her back.”
“She’s been there over 110 days,” James said of Griner, who is now a valuable asset for the Russians.
“Now, how could she feel like America has her back?
“I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?’”
After the backlash, James said on Twitter:
“My comments on ‘The Shop’ regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country.
“I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days!
“Long story short #BringHerHome.”
My comments on “The Shop” regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 13, 2022
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was among the many who took issue with James.
“Maybe ‘Mr. China made me rich!’ Lebron ought to relocate to the country that enriches him by slave labor,” Huckabee said.
“If you hate America, you don’t have to stay.”
Maybe “Mr. China made me rich!” Lebron ought to relocate to the country that enriches him by slave labor. If you hate America, you don’t have to stay. LeBron James Says He’d Question Returning To America If He Were Brittney Griner https://t.co/FTkbJwSmxM via @TMZ
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 12, 2022
Meanwhile, Griner is hoping that there will be “no severe sentence” in her case.
“The guilty plea was her decision informed by discussion with her legal defense team in Russia,” Griner’s legal team said.
“Brittney sets an example of being brave.
“She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people.”
“Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence,” the reps said.
