https://radaronline.com/p/lebron-james-trashed-jamal-khashoggi-saudi-arabia-trip/
>Hatice Cengiz, who was set to marry Khashoggi the same year he was murdered upon the orders of Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman (MBS), called out James and other sports figures for shilling in a country notorious for human rights violations.
>“Another disappointing development. It is important to remember that athletes are not just athletes,” Cengiz told RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview. “They have a lot of fans following them. It is very sad to see that these people forget that they are also morally exemplary while making their choices.”
>King James shocked fans when he was spotted shooting hoops in Saudi Arabia this week — only months after making a tongue-in-cheek social media comment about a string of superstar athletes getting paid seven-figure stipends to show off their skills in the oil-rich nation.
>The 38-year-old basketball phenom used a GIF of Tom Hank’s Forrest Gump character in a full sprint to demonstrate how quick he would be to accept the $776 million invitation the Saudis made to Kylian Mbappe, the speedy French soccer star.
>Mbappe turned down the offer and many thought James was immune from the so-called Saudi blood money since the L.A. Laker’s power forward is worth an estimated $1 billion.
>Images of James, released this week, showing him in the Saudi capital of Riyadh shooting hoops in the gymnasium with a banner screaming “Welcome to Arabia” and “Ministry of Sport” strategically placed behind him sent many fans into a tizzy.
>Another X post showed James strolling out of a building followed by a gaggle of Saudi men in traditional checkered head scarfs and white dress robes.
by FookingZyzzbrah
45 Comments
Interest in social issues will end for most when it touches their bank account. Unfortunate but not surprising that Lebron isn’t above that.
fans were shocked? They should have known better after LeBron joined CCP
Just because I can bounce a basketball doesn’t mean I can raise your kids – barkley
Everyones socially conscious until they’re offered 700 mil
LeBonesaw
Not surprising after his comments about China and Hong Kong
Saudi very much going all in on the sportswashing
What does lebron have to do with that?
I mean. The US govt still does business with the saudis. Dunno why we expect more from athletes than we do our govt
“LEBRON JAMES! WITH NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE”
Every single person on this shitty subreddit would get on their knees and lick the boots of every Saudi prince if it meant they got $700 million. Bunch of hypocrites
LOL her president (Erdogan) was in Saudi Arabia 2 months ago. He was shaking hands with the man himself (Mohammad Bin Salman) a week ago in the G20 summit
LeSharia shilling for murderous regimes?
*pretends to be shocked*
I dont care if the athlete hasnt spoken out on social issues for years. Like if james harden wants to play over there, go for it. But lbj has preached too much not to practice it.
LeBron cares for LeBron. That is it
can someone elaborate on what the issue is?
She is 100% right. How am I supposed to know whether the Saudi is a good or evil regime unless Lebron James told me about it?
Doesn’t the US government have a partnership with Saudi Arabia? I get that celebs are easier targets but that seems like a more substantial infringement.
my dude can’t travel? lmfaooo wtf bind your business people.
Genuine question. Do we know why LeBron was in Saudi Arabia? Also I’m surprised I haven’t seen the same criticism for Neymar and Ronaldo.
“I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Hatice Sengiz , but I believe she wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and she spoke, and so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. So just be careful what we tweet and what we say, and what we do.”
I don’t get why LeBron is held to such a higher moral standard. Okay, he’s advocated for change and equality in OUR communities, where he can actually have an impact. Just because you care about something, doesn’t mean you have to care about everything.
Yeah, she has a point but she didn’t say anything when Ronaldo or Neymar went to play there or Phil Mickelson or Dustin Johnson took Saudi money. No one complains about the PGA or ATP holding tours in China. But somehow, only LeBron is the only one criticized about it.
Saudis buy sneakers too.
Are people gonna act like they care about this again
Money money money money money money money… MON-EH!
LeChina
why is this a surprise to anyone. he’s christian, so he’ll follow the money and violence to shoot some hoops
Yeah but what about the whataboutism?
I think children shouldn’t be taught to look up to athletes.
Lebron’s a fighter for social issues until moneys involved
Re – china, this, etc
i’m still so confused what LeBron actually has to do with this?
is it really all that bad? I mean, Lebron already plays in a country whose military executed drone strikes on Hospitals and Schools.
J cuz Lebron wants to take a stance in support of black people doesn’t mean he’s automatically due to take a stance on every single problem in the world. All these people are fake out crying cuz they themselves don’t give a shit about it and know it doesn’t affect them, it’s j a way to give excuse to hate on lebron. Mfs love to talk like they morally right on the internet but they ain’t doing no motion nor showing any support for the causes and stances they supposedly “support.” All credit to her for saying what she’s preaching, but I also wonder if she’s saying the same thing about all the soccer players going to Saudi or all the sports washing they do
Y’all pump your gas with Saudi Oil. Shut the fuck up
> many thought James was immune from the so-called Saudi blood money since the L.A. Laker’s power forward is worth an estimated $1 billion.
Ohhh that’s not how money works for billionaires. There is never such thing as “enough” money to people like that, just “more” money.
She ain’t wrong. If my husband were dismembered by a bonesaw, I’d be pretty pissed if athletes went over to Saudi Arabia acting like it’s a normal country. It’s the terrorist state behind 9/11. It’s ok for LeBron to give up a few dollars in dirty money.
But can D Wade bring his WHOLE family to watch Lebron play in $audi Arabia? First question I’d be asking Lebron if I was a reporter lol.
Well I’d rather LeBron didn’t take the money (if he is offered any), but if it’s between him taking it or the money just being used on someone else or other projects, I think I’d rather LeBron have it, cause at least he has shown he’s willing to help poor and underserved people in his country.
Didn’t Biden literally forgive the Saudis for any involvement in the killing of Khashoggi?
It’s hilarious to see this “holier than thou” attitude here and on many other threads by, I assume mostly, Americans, citizens of a country built on slavery.
BronBron doesn’t care, he will go get this 1B.
Amazing how these people think they’re so perfect and try to lecture others on countries like Saudi while they live in the US like it some sort of innocent perfect country, what a clown
Oh shut up. They’re not fuckin ambassadors.
While I would love athletes to be socially conscious, even the United States politically will not shy away from Saudi money. It is silly to ask Lebron or any athlete to be above it all when our corrupt politicians can’t even help themselves and set an example.
Big “all lives matter” vibes in this thread.
i love that we hold lebron james to a higher standard than the literal president of the united states