UFC: Colby Covington calls LeBron James a ‘Chinese finger puppet’ for silence on Hong Kong and alleged sweatshops
- Covington, an outspoken Donald Trump supporter, says NBA star’s silence on China is hypocritical
- The Los Angeles Lakers says ‘he speaks from an educated mind’ and that ‘I’m kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework’
“There‘s no way I will ever just stick to sports because I understand how this platform … how powerful my voice is,” James said after the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday.
“I speak from a very educated mind,” James added. “I‘m kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework.”
James was responding to comments made by AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic: “I like him (James) a lot. He’s phenomenal, but I don’t like when people with a status speak about politics. Do what you’re good at doing.”
Now UFC fighter Colby Covington, who is a vocal Donald Trump supporter, has called out James in a tweet over his silence on China and Hong Kong.
This is not the first time Covington has taken aim at James via social media. James has not responded to any of Covington’s previous social media posts or comments.
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“When are you gonna speak up about Hong Kong @KingJames?” Covington wrote on Twitter, linking to the postgame interview James did where he responded to Ibrahimovic’s comments.
“Oh that’s right, you can’t. You’re a Chinese finger puppet! You make millions playing a kids game & talk about ‘social justice’ but have no problem paying Chinese women in sweatshops pennies to make your products. Slimeball.”
James found himself embroiled in the NBA’s China controversy, which kicked off in October 2019 after then Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted his support for Hong Kong protesters.
Morey quickly deleted the tweet but the fallout continued, with James’ Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets in China to play preseason games.
On his return to the US James called out Morey for not being “educated” on the situation, which drew condemnation from a number of people given James has been outspoken on a number of social justice issues .
Protesters in Hong Kong staged a rally where they burned James’ jersey and said he “stands for money” in supporting China and his business interests in the country.
