LeBron James responded at length to FOX News host Laura Ingraham’s criticism of him at All-Star media day.
James remarked on many topics, but emphasized his commitment to setting an example for those who look up to him and how Ingraham’s comments helped him do that.
'The best thing she did was help me create more awareness' — LeBron on Fox News' Laura Ingraham's comments https://t.co/hp5ATRyXUH pic.twitter.com/DrRUxu38Is
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 17, 2018
“I think I’ve defeated the odds,” James said in part. “I want every kid to know that, and I want everybody to know, the youth, that they can do it as well. And that is why I will not just shut up and dribble, because I mean too much to my two boys here, their best friend right here, my daughter that’s at home, my wife, my family, and all these other kids that look up to me for inspiration and trying to find a way out.
“The best thing she did that’s gonna help me is create more awareness, so I appreciate her for giving me even more awareness,” James continued. For me to sit up here, in the greatest weekend, the NBA All-Star Weekend … and I get to sit up here and talk about social injustice, equality, and why a woman on a certain network decided to tell me to shut up and dribble. So thank you, whatever her name is — I don’t even know her name … I get to sit up here and talk about what’s really important and how I can help change kids not only in America but in Brazil and England and Mexico and all over. So thank you.”
James also weighed in on whether he saw Ingraham’s comments as racist.
LeBron James on if Fox News' Laura Ingraham's comments were racist. “The engine that she sits behind doesn’t have a great rap sheet.” pic.twitter.com/mxfONBj2dM
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 17, 2018
It sounds rather unlikely that James is going to take Ingraham up on her standing invitation. Ultimately, it seems that the only thing this episode has accomplished is to embolden James in standing up for what he believes in.
