UFC star Colby Covington has warned “spineless coward” LeBron James that he should “leave” America and “go to China” or “come deal with me.”
NBA star James has provoked widespread outrage after a video surfaced of the Los Angeles Lakers player snubbing the national anthem.
He was seen entering USC’s arena during a live rendition of the national anthem and immediately taking a seat.
As James entered the arena for his son’s basketball game, his entourage also disrupted the song as the crowd watched quietly.
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Covington issued his fiery response on Wednesday night as he prepares to take on Leon Edwards in a welterweight bout at UFC 296 over the weekend.
“If you hate America so much, and you don’t like this country that gave you a billion dollars – leave it,” Covington blasted.
“Or come deal with me.
“Go to China,” he continued,
“Go to these sweatshops that you employ all these laborers and use these women and pay them pennies on the dollar to make your millions.
“F**k you LeBron James. You’re a coward.
“You’re a spineless coward and you’re a b**ch.”
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Orange County Register reporter Luca Evans posted the video on Twitter/X of James walking into the Galen Center.
He arrived in a large group that included his younger son Bryce and two of his Sierra Canyon High School teammates.
The video showed James entering the arena while the anthem was playing and interrupting the performance.
He was there to watch his son, Bronny, make his debut after a cardiac arrest during the summer.
X users noticed that James immediately sat in his chair during the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
He also failed to remove his hat, which is customary to do during the national anthem.
James finally stands toward the end of the video.
He was immediately criticized for allegedly having “zero respect” for the U.S. as well as hating the country because he did not stand for the anthem.
As the video got picked up, Evans pushed back on the criticism as some suggested James had sat down in protest.
“As the reporter who took this video, this is gross and completely mischaracterizes the situation,” he wrote on X.
“LeBron has done this for YEARS in Bronny’s time at Sierra Canyon.
“It’s objectively the best time to walk in so he doesn’t cause a massive stir. Stop it.”
James did not play in Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.
