LeBron James has come out to endorse Kamala Harris for the 2024 elections in a recent interview. He emphasized his support for Harris because she champions women's rights. He said:
"Having a daughter, having a wife and her mother, you know, and things of that nature. What [Kamala] believes in when it comes to women's rights, when it comes to the future, you know, where my kids and where I see our country should be."
When asked what piqued his interest in being involved in politics, LeBron said that it all started with the "Shut up and dribble" comment made by Laura Ingraham. He added that he was aware that he was in a position to influence people and their opinions.
What went down between LeBron James and Laura Ingraham in 2018?
In 2018, a public dispute erupted between NBA superstar LeBron James and Fox News host Laura Ingraham after Ingraham criticized James for speaking out on social and political issues.
This confrontation, often referred to as the “Shut Up and Dribble” controversy, began when James, alongside fellow NBA player Kevin Durant, voiced his disapproval of then-President Donald Trump, saying that Trump didn’t “give a f*** about the people.” The 17-minute long interview was hosted by ESPN broadcaster Cari Champion.
Ingraham responded on her show, The Ingraham Angle, by dismissing James’ and Durant's political opinions, suggesting that they should “shut up and dribble” rather than speak out on political matters. Ingraham went on to say that his remarks were 'barely intelligible' and mocked him as a high school dropout.
She continued to mock Lebron and Durant by saying:
"It's always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball,"
This sparked an immediate backlash, with many interpreting her comments as not only dismissive, but also racially insensitive, as she seemed to undermine James’ right to express his views due to his profession and background.
After Ingraham had made those comments on FoxNews, James Lebron addressed Inghram's comments in an interview and said:
"We will definitely not 'Shut up and Dribble'. I would definitely not do that. I mean too much to society, the youth and so many kids who don't have a way out"
Lebron James went on to add:
"Also, I wish she did more fact-checking because I did actually finish high-school."
James also went on his X account to re-post Ingraham's video and reiterated why the George Floyd protest was important:
"If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. 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"
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Overall, LeBron James responded to Ingraham’s comments by embracing activism even more visibly. He began using his platform to discuss issues related to social justice, police brutality, and systemic racism. He also produced a documentary titled Shut Up and Dribble, which explores the role of athletes in activism and politics.
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