'Racist as f**k': LeBron James sparks controversy after comments on Boston fans on 'The Shop'
In a recent conversation on the HBO talk show, ‘The Shop’, LeBron James said Boston sports fans are "racist as f**k". The 37-year-old NBA star, who is a part owner of the Red Sox, added the fans in Boston will say whatever they want to say.
When James' business partner Maverick Carter asked him in the show, which got released on July 15, “In basketball, there are fans that can literally take the game from you. You can feel like the fans is not going to let us win this one tonight. What place?" James responded by saying, “I mean, Boston." To which Maverick questioned again, “"Why do you hate Boston?" The NBA star said, “Because they racist as f***, that's why. They will say anything, and it's fine. I mean, f***, it's my wife, she's been dealing with them her whole life. I don't mind it. I hear it, if I hear someone close by, I check them real quick. I move onto the game, whatever the f***. They going to say whatever the f*** they want to say. They might throw something, I got a beer thrown on me leaving a game."
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'Very disgusting of you Celtics fans'
Not just James but other athletes have called out Boston Celtics fans' behavior in the past as well. Following Game 3 of the NBA Finals in June this year, Klay Thompson criticized Boston Celtics fans for heckling Draymond Green throughout the game.
“It was not a factor. We’ve played in front of rude people before. Dropping f-bombs with children in the crowd. Real classy. Good job, Boston.” @KlayThompson had some thoughts on the crowd at TD Garden last night 👀
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 9, 2022
(via @SportsCenter)pic.twitter.com/brRyR7AvA0
Also, Draymond's wife, Hazel Renee, took to Instagram stories to point out the same and said, "Tough loss tonight BUT in NO WAY shape or form should fans be allowed to chant obscenities at players. Are they not human? Is someone standing at you job saying off the wall things to you?" The stories further said, "The NBA has the audacity to have a whole code of conduct card at every seat about fans and their behavior and how they can be ejected from a game or banned, but a whole crowd/section/numerous people get to chant "F*** You Draymond" or call him a "B****" or "MF?! And nothing?? Like that's OK." She added that her children were at the game "hearing that mess. Very disgusting of you little Celtics fans, just shameful."
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Never-ending controversial comments
However, for James, this is not the first time that he made some comments that grabbed the public attention. Earlier, in July, he suggested WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is detained in Russia on drug charges, not return to the United States because he felt the government didn't do enough to get her released. He said, "Over 110 days, now how could she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, 'Do I even want to go back to America?'" To which, he received a lot of backlashes and later clarified his statement by saying, "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