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Fox News host Laura Ingraham commented that NBA athletes should stay out of politics, telling Kevin Durant and LeBron James to "shut up and dribble." Her disparaging remark was a reaction to the pair's video interview on the multimedia platform, Uninterrupted, where they discussed Trump and the state of the country.
In response to Ingraham's cruel derogation, James posted his rebuttal on Instagram.
The feud began when James and Durant were interviewed by ESPN's Cari Champion on the Uninterrupted program. James admonished Trump's presidency.
The climate is hot. The No. 1 job in America, the appointed person (Trump), is someone who doesn't understand the people — and really don't give a (expletive) about the people. It's, like, laughable.
It's not even a surprise when he says something. It's, like, laughable. It's laughable and it's scary.
Champion added to the conversation expressing that we shouldn't be numb to Trump's racist comments and behavior.
Ingraham fired off about the video interview on her show, The Ingraham Angle, and mocked the discourse, saying, "I'm numb to this commentary, 'Like.'"
She also criticized James for leaving high school a year early to join the NBA and said it was unwise to "seek political advice from someone who gets paid a hundred million dollars a year to bounce a ball."
Must they run their mouths like that? Unfortunately, a lot of kids and some adults take these ignorant comments seriously. You're great players, but no one voted for you. Millions elected Trump to be their coach. So keep the political commentary to yourself, or, as someone once said, 'shut up and dribble.'
Durant and James made separate statements saying they will not stop the conversation on politics, and Durant accused Ingraham's comments during her show as racist remarks.
"To me, it was racist," he said at a news conference.
Ignorance is something I try to ignore. That was definitely an ignorant comment. I do play basketball, but I am a civilian and I am a citizen of the United States, so my voice is just as loud as hers, I think – or even louder.
James made his own succinct statement on Twitter.
If what he said last year about Trump is any indication, the star athlete won't be holding back his thoughts on pertinent issues.
I'm not gonna let, while I have this platform — to let one individual, no matter the power, no matter the impact that he should have or she should have, ever use sport as a platform to divide us.
Ingraham later issued a statement dismissing the charges of her racist comments as "defamatory."
There was no racial intent in my remarks - false, defamatory charges of racism are a transparent attempt to immunize entertainment and sports elites from scrutiny and criticism.
This user made sure he did research to confirm what he already knew.
Like his Instagram post says, James does more than just 'bounce a ball.'
He is the founder of the LeBron James Family Foundation in Akron, Ohio, which just announced it will offer 1,000 kids' educations with a scholarship to the University of Akron through his "I Promise" program.
This is very special to me. As a kid growing up in the inner city and as an African-American kid, you don't really think past high school because it's not possible or your family can't support you.
H/T - HuffingtonPost, USAtoday, TheHill, Twitter, NYtimes, BusinessInsider