NBA star Lebron James seemingly regrets posting a tweet about the Columbus police officer who was involved in the shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant.
He tweeted on Monday, “I fueled the wrong conversation about Ma’Khia Bryant and I owe it to her and this movement to change it. Thank you to [Fabiola Cineas] for educating us about Ma’Khia and her story and why this needs to be about her.”
I fueled the wrong conversation about Ma’Khia Bryant and I owe it to her and this movement to change it. Thank you @fabiolacineas for educating us about Ma’Khia and her story and why this needs to be about her. https://t.co/Owh1vDJWXi #sayhername #Blacklivesmatter
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 3, 2021
In his tweet, James linked to an article from Vox writer Fabiola Cineas titled, “Why they’re not saying Ma’Khia Bryant’s name.”
Last month, James tweeted a photo of officer Nicholas Reardon with the statement: “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.” He later removed the post.
Bryant, 16, was shot by a police officer in a confrontation where she appeared to lunge at two people with a knife.
James also tweeted on Monday, “Protect our Young Black Women and Men!”
Protect our Young Black Women & Men! 🙏🏾✊🏾🤎👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 3, 2021
James received backlash for his April tweet from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former President Donald Trump.
“The left consistently goes after, attacks and demonizes police officers, and they do so often before the facts are known, often before there is any evidence of what happened. But their immediate reaction, whenever there is an incident, is that the police officer is in the wrong,” Cruz said during a Fox News appearance.
He continued, “In this instance, ‘you’re next’ could certainly be interpreted by some, even, as a call for violence. I think it was a grossly irresponsible message for LeBron James to send out.”
The former president said in a statement, “LeBron James should focus on basketball rather than presiding over the destruction of the NBA, which has just recorded the lowest television RATINGS, by far, in the long and distinguished history of the League.”
He added, “His RACIST rants are divisive, nasty, insulting, and demeaning. He may be a great basketball player, but he is doing nothing to bring our Country together!”