Basketball superstar LeBron James threatened a Columbus officer with the message: “YOU’RE NEXT.”
- NBA player LeBron James publicly threatened an officer following a fatal police shooting.
- The athlete posted a picture of the cop with an aggressive message on his Twitter account.
- James later deleted his social media publication, after facing backlash over his threat.
In a now-deleted tweet, the 36-year-old athlete posted a picture of a Columbus police officer with the threatening message: “YOU’RE NEXT ⏳ #ACCOUNTABILITY”
As Blaze Media reports, James posted the image following a fatal police shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old girl.
The incident occurred on Tuesday after Bryant attacked another young woman with a knife. In an attempt to prevent the 16-year-old from hurting the other female, the officer shot at her. Tragically, she later died in a hospital. The altercation can be seen in bodycam footage.
Even though the video shows Bryant attacking the other woman with a knife, meaning the officer had to react immediately, the basketball star publicly threatened the deputy.
LeBron James’ Twitter post was deleted after the athlete faced backlash over his threat.
Many social media users, including Sen. Tom Cotton, Sports commentator Jason Whitlock, and The National Fraternal Order of Police, expressed their outrage following James’ tweet.
Lebron James is inciting violence against an Ohio police officer.
This is disgraceful and dangerous.
Is the NBA okay with this? Is Twitter?
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) April 21, 2021
LeBron James, like other elites, is using racial division as a distraction as elites reshape America to be more like communist China. Elites prefer communism. Millionaire elites are protected by communism. They're the "Talented Tenth" W.E.B. Du Bois promoted. You're being played.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) April 21, 2021
.@KingJames, with his vast resources & influence, should educate himself and, frankly, has a responsibility to do so, on the facts before weighing in. This is disgraceful & extremely reckless.
The officer saved a young girl's life. No amount of gaslighting will change that fact. pic.twitter.com/GTHn1VAAlf
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) April 21, 2021
The NBA player later posted a follow-up tweet, explaining the reason for his outburst.
Although LeBron James did not offer an apology, he explained:
“ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself!”
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
The professional baller added:
“I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. I took the tweet down because it’s 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.”