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Candace Owens attacks LeBron James over 'you're next' tweet for Ma'Khia Bryant killer cop: 'You are a LOSER'

The NBA star called for holding the cop who shot Ma'Khia Bryant accountable for his actions and wrote 'you're next', but he soon deleted the tweet

In a now-deleted tweet, NBA star LeBron James called for the Columbus police officer who shot and killed 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant to be held responsible for his actions. "You're next", the tweet posted on Wednesday, April 21, said. The Lakers forward later said that he deleted the tweet as it was being used to create more hate.

Bryant, a Black teenager, was killed by a White Ohio cop on Tuesday, April 20, while she was charging at two people with a knife. This reignited the controversy over cops using deadly force just after former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd. Officials and others, including Candace Owens, took to Twitter to give the NBA star a piece of their mind.

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'Is the NBA okay with this? Is Twitter?'

"You're next. #ACCOUNTABILITY," James tweeted in response to Bryant's death, along with a picture of the Ohio cop Nicholas Reardon. James is known for his outspokenness on social justice issues. Many interpreted it to suggest that the Lakers star was inciting police brutality, the Daily Mail reported. 

Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, who was one of the first to call James out, shared his views on Twitter. "Lebron James is inciting violence against an Ohio police officer. This is disgraceful and dangerous. Is the NBA okay with this? Is Twitter?" he said. Other officials pitched in. "People like LeBron James and his friends on the left are driving good people away from careers in law enforcement. This is the exact OPPOSITE of how to improve policing," said Ohio Rep Mike Loychik. 

'You are a LOSER for defending this criminal'

Author and conservative analyst Candace Owens shared tweets and an Instagram video regarding James' tweet. "She was in the process of KILLING another human being! You are a LOSER for defending this criminal. The police officer is a hero. He SAVED a black life," she said. In the next tweet, which linked an Instagram video, Owens said: "If America was a country that believed in justice, Lebron James would be stripped of all of his sponsorships."

Sharing a video on Instagram, she said: "If Lebron James is your King...What kind of a despicable human being defends a knife-wielding maniac? Is that your King? Will black people in America ever wake up to the truth? The people that we’ve been conditioned to idolize are DESTROYING our neighborhoods and promoting degeneracy."

In a tweet posted after the first was deleted, LeBron explained: "I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. I took the tweet down because its being used to create more hate -This isn’t about one officer. it’s about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY."

'Yes, that’s it. You’re the victim'

"Lebron James is speaking out because the wrong person died. If the other person was stabbed to death, he wouldn't be saying a word," said a Twitter user. "So LeBron is claiming that he took the tweet down because it was being used to create more hate by some unnamed bad actors, when it's pretty obvious that he was the one who was needlessly stoking hate & division," said another. "Yes, that’s it. You’re the victim, LeBron," quipped a third.

'Twitter is protecting LeBron'

Others slammed Twitter for the wording of their summary of the trending story. "Referencing” is an interesting word choice here @twitter. I’d suggest threatening, doxing, & picturing, at a minimum, would all be more accurate. Not to mention the person shot was attempting murder when she was killed. This headline is highly partisan and biased," said a tweet.

"Don’t miss what’s happening here, Twitter is protecting LeBron. Who wrote this headline? We have no idea. This is a clear editorial decision by a company that claims it’s a platform and not a publisher. But they are publishing a false narrative here. With zero accountability," they added.