Ma’Khia Bryant death: LeBron James says he 'fueled wrong conversation' with since-deleted tweet targeting cop
NBA star LeBron James had sparked controversy after he tweeted the picture of the cop who killed Ma'Khia Bryant with a threatening caption. The Los Angeles Lakers player said in his quickly deleted tweet, "YOU'RE NEXT" along with an hourglass emoji and a hashtag "#ACCOUNTABILITY", and what appeared to be a photo of the officer.
On Monday, March 3, James has tweeted about the incident, saying, "I fueled the wrong conversation about Ma’Khia Bryant and I owe it to her and this movement to change it," he said, linking to a Vox article titled "Why they’re not saying Ma’Khia Bryant’s name." "Thank you @fabiolacineas for educating us about Ma’Khia and her story and why this needs to be about her. #sayhername #Blacklivesmatter."
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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
As soon as James latest comments came to light, Twitter was flooded with reactions. One user supported James' previous tweet, saying he didn't do anything wrong by posting the cop's picture, "No you didn’t. That child had been asking for help long before that day while living under a bad foster care situation, which included violence against her. A lot of our ppl murdered by police aren’t “perfect”, but we overwhelming justify the murders when it’s a Blk girl/woman." One of his fans said, "Lebron you are the nicest human off all time."
No you didn’t. That child had been asking for help long before that day while living under a bad foster care situation, which included violence against her. A lot of our ppl murdered by police aren’t “perfect”, but we overwhelming justify the murders when it’s a Blk girl/woman.
— Dawn Richard Stan (@StillStilettos) May 3, 2021
While sharing LeBron's tweet, another one said, "Fueled the wrong conversation? You cant be this f*cking stupid. (jk. Yes you can) You doxed a cop trying to insite outrage for someone trying to murder another person. Please "King Shithead" just stick to balln and leave the grown up talk to the adults." Slamming the Vox article, another one said, "What a sh*t article. No wonder he’s so uninformed, gets his shit from Vox lmao"
Fueled the wrong conversation? You cant be this fucking stupid. (jk. Yes you can) You doxed a cop trying to insite outrage for someone trying to murder another person. Please "King Shithead" just stick to balln and leave the grown up talk to the adults. https://t.co/4UiHC4iB6L
— MomusMouse (@MomusMouse) May 4, 2021
What a shit article. No wonder he’s so uninformed, gets his shit from Vox lmao https://t.co/LaVQ9aHlnM
— Mike Jambowski (@azMikeJ) May 4, 2021
One person tweeted, "Glad he’s trying to do some homework, feel like he’s very much still missing the point on this incident; or why it is not at all in the same category as George Floyd." While another one said, "Athletes becoming activists seems like a new sports version of politicians becoming lobbyists."
Glad he’s trying to do some homework, feel like he’s very much still missing the point on this incident; or why it is not at all in the same category as George Floyd https://t.co/4GZjILSMm8
— Brad Pritts (@BradleyPritts) May 4, 2021
Athletes becoming activists seems like a new sports version of politicians becoming lobbyists. https://t.co/qOd0Kbp0ko
— Dorktanian (@Dorktanian) May 4, 2021
Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl, was shot dead by an officer identified as Nicholas Reardon on a residential driveway in Columbus, Ohio, last month. The Columbus Division of Police released the body camera footage, in which Bryant was seen wielding a knife, and police said she was "attempting to stab" another girl when Reardon shot her several times. This was after Reardon repeatedly shouted, "Get down."Bryant was later declared dead at the hospital.