LeBron James’ explained that his “YOU’RE NEXT” tweet was being used to “create more hate” which is why he deleted it.
James experienced intense backlash after he posted a photo of the Columbus police officer involved in the Ma’Khia Bryant shooting with a caption that read, “YOU’RE NEXT.”
James attempted to explain the reasoning behind deleting his post on Wednesday night saying, “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.”
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
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself! Gathering all the facts and educating does though! My anger still is here for what happened that lil girl. My sympathy for her family and may justice prevail! ????????✊????????????
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
James would have done well to gather “all of the facts” and educate himself before posting that tweet, given that his grasp on the facts of the case seems to be completely wrong.
As the Washington Times reports:
A body-camera image released by the Columbus Division of Police shortly after the Tuesday shooting indicates that the Los Angeles Lakers star’s interpretation of events may be objectively wrong.
The knife-wielding Ms. Bryant appeared to bear down on another woman in Columbus, Ohio, just as the officer arrived on the scene.
Not only that, James seems to hone in on the fact that the police officer who shot Bryant is white, and Bryant is black. However, he makes no mention that the woman Bryant was attacking was also black. Meaning that the officer used deadly force to save a black woman’s life.
Many Twitter users were dubious of James’ explanation.
To clarify: Lebron is ok with black people killing other black people… he's only upset when a white police officer stops the murder from happening.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) April 21, 2021
Most of your race-based tweets achieve nothing other than fomenting hate, division, and tribalism. You are a dispenser of racial hate rooted in an ethos of victimology. Strong people overcome their tragic circumstances as my family and I did when we escaped the Middle East.
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) April 22, 2021
If the officer hadn’t shot the girl with the knife, the other girl would have died. You’re making it a little to obvious that you don’t care about black on black crime because it doesn’t fit your narrative.
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 22, 2021
She. had. a. knife. and. was. about. to. stab. a. black. woman.
— Mike Hahn (@mikehahn_) April 21, 2021
LeBron James Tweets "You're Next" to Columbus Police Officer Involved in Ma’Khia Bryant Shooting
In a disturbing tweet, Lebron James posted a photo of the officer involved with the Ma’Khia Bryant shooting with a caption that read, “You’re Next.”
The officer who has been identified as Nicholas Reardon, will most certainly need protection from the barrage of attacks coming his way leaving many outraged.
LeBron James is now sharing a picture of the Columbus police officer who shot the woman wielding a knife and attacking another woman.
With zero regard for facts, he’s solely focused on dividing the country. Total scumbag. https://t.co/Ymxk3xeEJs
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) April 21, 2021
Narrative Commitments + Retribution > Facts + Effectual Reforms
This is a recipe for savagery, not #Accountability https://t.co/hx0reKLoaC
— Kmele (@kmele) April 21, 2021
LeBron would have tweeted this same thing if the cop had just sat there while a girl was stabbed https://t.co/W6alv5zT2T
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) April 21, 2021
The fatal police shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant, a Black teenager seen on video charging at two people with a knife, came within minutes of the verdict in George Floyd’s killing — causing outrage by some over the continued use of lethal force by Columbus police.
Officials with the Columbus Division of Police released footage of the shooting Tuesday night just hours after it happened, a departure from protocol as the force faces immense scrutiny from the public following a series of recent high-profile police killings that have led to clashes.
The girl was identified by Franklin County Children Services, which said in a release that the 16-year-old Bryant was under the care of the agency at the time of her death.
No word from the NBA on whether James will be disciplined for the tweet.
