OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has hit back at NBA star LeBron James after comments he deemed to be unamerican.
James spoke on WNBA player Brittney Griner being detained in Russia and lamenting that, in his mind, the United States has not don enough to get her home.
“Over 110 days now, how could she feel like America has her back?” he said in a promo for the fifth season of his show “The Show.” “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?’”
The former Arkansas governor was furious at the star’s contempt for the United States.
“Maybe ‘Mr. China made me rich!’ Lebron ought to relocate to the country that enriches him by slave labor. If you hate America, you don’t have to stay,” he said.
Maybe "Mr. China made me rich!" Lebron ought to relocate to the country that enriches him by slave labor. If you hate America, you don't have to stay. LeBron James Says He'd Question Returning To America If He Were Brittney Griner https://t.co/FTkbJwSmxM via @TMZ
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 12, 2022
But James has backtracked from his original comments.
“My comments on ‘The Shop’ regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome,” he said.
My comments on “The Shop” regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 13, 2022
But that was after he got crushed on Twitter for his comments.
“LeBron James should join Brittney Griner in her Russian jail cell,” Nick Adams said.
LeBron James should join Brittney Griner in her Russian jail cell.
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) July 12, 2022
“LeBron James says if he was Brittany Griner he wouldn’t want to come back to the United States because she’s been in Russian prison too long. LeBron on virtually every issue other than basketball is an idiot,” Clay Travis said.
LeBron James says if he was Brittany Griner he wouldn’t want to come back to the United States because she’s been in Russian prison too long. LeBron on virtually every issue other than basketball is an idiot: pic.twitter.com/Xyh70QMA6J
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 12, 2022
“Hey @KingJames – the reason Griner is still in Russia is @JoeBiden is president. As POTUS, Trump made the release of US hostages a national priority. 50+ released during his presidency,” Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy said.
Hey @KingJames – the reason Griner is still in Russia is @JoeBiden is president. As POTUS, Trump made the release of US hostages a national priority. 50+ released during his presidency. https://t.co/8dCeczqaLb
— Rachel Campos-Duffy (@RCamposDuffy) July 13, 2022
“To be that good and that stupid is very very hard,” former Major League Baseball star Curt Schilling said.
LeBron James Says Brittney Griner Would Be Justified In Not Wanting To Return To America https://t.co/eWVIC7v64A via @dailycaller to be that good and that stupid is very very hard.
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) July 13, 2022
“Perhaps we’ll get more context. But it’d be peak LeBron to casually muse that an American imprisoned in an authoritarian state may not want to return to this awful country — which has only showered him with wealth and fame, & where he’s totally free to be an outspoken ingrate,” Guy Benson.
Perhaps we’ll get more context. But it’d be peak LeBron to casually muse that an American imprisoned in an authoritarian state may not want to return to this awful country — which has only showered him with wealth and fame, & where he’s totally free to be an outspoken ingrate.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) July 13, 2022
“LeBron James says if he were Brittney Griner, he’d question returning to the United States. 2 things: 1. He’s free to leave at any point… Why not China since he loves the CCP? 2. There’s no rush to decide now. She’s got 10 years to think about it,” Tim Young said.
LeBron James says if he were Brittney Griner, he'd question returning to the United States.
2 things: 1. He's free to leave at any point… Why not China since he loves the CCP?
2. There's no rush to decide now. She's got 10 years to think about it.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) July 12, 2022
“LeBron James thinks America is so bad Brittney Griner might prefer to just stay in a Russian prison for a decade. People on ESPN act like this clown is a genius. In reality, LeBron is incredibly stupid,” David Hookstead said.
LeBron James thinks America is so bad Brittney Griner might prefer to just stay in a Russian prison for a decade.
People on ESPN act like this clown is a genius. In reality, LeBron is incredibly stupid. https://t.co/ShPS4Pym86
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) July 12, 2022
Griner pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia.
She explained to a Russian judge that she had done so “inadvertently” and asked the court for mercy, ESPN reported.
“I’d like to plead guilty, your honor. But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law,” the 31-year-old said.
She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of large-scale transportation of drugs.
Sources said the guilty plea to charges of drug possession and smuggling was a strategy to help facilitate a prisoner swap that could bring Griner home, and it also was a recognition that there was no way she was going to be acquitted.
U.S. officials and Russia experts have described the trial on drug smuggling charges as “theater,” with a guilty verdict seen as a foregone conclusion.
Thursday was the second day of her trial on charges that she tried to bring vape cartridges containing hashish oil into Russia on Feb. 17, where she was detained by customs officials at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
Experts believe that the resolution in the case will be a prisoner exchange with Russia for Russians detained in the United States being traded for Griner and possibly another American, Paul Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since December 2018.
