NBA accused of being controlled by China after 'Free Hong Kong' jerseys couldn't be ordered at official store
The NBA is currently facing scrutiny over its relationship with Beijing as fans found that they could no longer order 'Free Hong Kong' jerseys from the official and main store.
It has been reported that a viral video exposed the NBA and its' aversion to the political sentiment. Their jerseys for 'Free America', 'Free Canada', and 'Free Mexico' is being sold online, Daily Mail reports. Only hours after the discovery was made, the officially partnered NBA store on Fanatics.com started to allow 'Free Hong Kong' to be printed on jerseys. As the video went viral, the NBA was slammed online for its alleged inconsistency amid claims it is bowing down to paymasters in China.
I bet the #NBA will allow you to put #freewoj on their custom t-shirts. But why won’t they allow #FreeHongKong???? Whatsup @NBA @Fanatics pic.twitter.com/9X3eGd4lwa
— Vince (@vincepaz1230) July 13, 2020
According to a Fanatics spokesperson, "The phrase was inadvertently prohibited on our league online store sites and has now been fixed. Fans who wish to customize it, so long as the text meets the 12-character limit, are able to do so."
The NBA also revealed that the error had been Fanatic's doing and that it had affected several sports franchises that are partnered with the store. Many social media users took to commenting on the same and called out the NBA. One such user shared, "Had to check it for myself. It is real. F the NBA. I'm out." Another commented, "Because NBA doesn't want to be the enemy of the 1.4 Bn Chinese. # uphold HK security law."
"NBA is dead to me. Not a penny, not a minute. Gone and forgotten," shared yet another user.
It was just last week when Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) had written an open letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver that called out and accused the league of being hypocrites in their position and stance towards social justice.
The email was reportedly titled 'Senator Hawley Blasts NBA for Kowtowing to Beijing & Refusing to Support U.S. Military and Law Enforcement'. Hawley had a problem with the league's "apparent decision to strictly limit messages players can wear on their jerseys to a few pre-approved, social justice slogans while censoring support for law enforcement officers or the military and any criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)."
Last week on Thursday, July 9, it had been revealed that the NBA will be allowing players to write down social justice-themed statements and messages on their uniforms for the upcoming season. Both the NBA and the players reached a consensus on a list of messages that could be chosen from and displayed above the numbers on the backside of their uniform.
The list is inclusive of phrases such as 'Black Lives Matter'; 'Say Their Names'; 'Vote'; 'I Can't Breathe'; 'Justice'; 'Peace'; 'Equality'; 'Enough'; 'Ally'; 'Anti-Racist'; and 'How Many More.'
Senator Hawley's email sharing his letter blasting the league was met with heavy criticism and a 'f*** you' response from a reporter Adrian Wojnarowski who was reprimanded for the same. Wojnarowski was suspended as an ESPN reporter for his comments and has since issued an apology. "I was disrespectful and I made a regrettable mistake, I'm sorry for the way I handled myself and I am reaching out immediately to Senator Hawley to apologize directly," Wojnarowski wrote.
ESPN also slammed Wojnarowski's response and shared that "it is inexcusable for anyone working with ESPN to respond in the way Adrian did to Senator Hawley. We are addressing it directly and specifics of those conversations will remain internal."
However, Senator Hawley shared that Wojnarowski did not have to apologize and said that the incident was more of a distraction. Hawley wrote, "Don't make @wojespn apologize. He's just saying what he really thinks. Call out the @NBA. You know, your job."
The NBA, had been having unsolved problems with China, left over from the spark ignited by the Houston Rockets' general manager's tweet in support of Hong Kong rioters in October 2019. Some NBA franchise bosses have revealed that no NBA team would make profits this year or next, and the only differences among teams will be the scale of losses, US media reported. NBA Commissioner Silver said he hoped the NBA could find "mutual respect" with China over the Hong Kong row, but he has also faced overwhelming criticism domestically.