Back in February, the Fox News host told LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of NBA’s biggest superstars, that they should just ‘shut up and dribble’ and not comment on politics.
‘Millions elected Trump to be their coach,’ Ingraham said, adding, ‘So keep the political commentary to yourself or, as someone once said, shut up and dribble.’
She was apparently responding to LeBron’s earlier comments, in which he said that Trump doesn’t ‘give a f**k about the people’ in America.
Durant, the Golden States forward, later said that he viewed Ingraham’s jibe as ‘racist’.
'To me, it was racist,' he said. 'Ignorance is something I try to ignore. That was definitely an ignorant comment.'
These comments have now inspired a reality TV show.
According to Variety, Shut Up and Dribble will chronicle the evolution of basketball players to become more than athletes: social activists and influencers in the arenas of commerce, fashion and politics.
LeBron’s production company SpringHill Entertainment will produce the series along with Showtime Sports Documentary Films.
‘If being a star athlete is inherently a political experience, Shut Up and Dribble tells that complex and dramatic story from the past to the present and from the inside out' said Nevins.
‘LeBron James is one of many competitors whose place in the spotlight has led not to silence but perspective, and he, Maverick Carter and Gotham Chopra have given us an important, insightful docuseries that should bring their fans and fellow citizens to a higher level of discourse, rather than the dismissal satirized in the title.’
The announcement comes just days after President Trump took to Twitter to attack LeBron following the former Cleveland Cavaliers legend’s new I Promise school announcement.
At the end of July, LeBron was interviewed by CNN’s Don Lemon, just hours after he opened his new school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, which guarantees pupils free tuition, free food, uniforms and bicycles.
In the wide-ranging interview LeBron said that Trump is sowing the seeds of division in America.
'One, because I believe our President is trying to divide us... he is, he's dividing us and what I have noticed over the last few months is that he's kind of used sport to divide.’
He later added: 'Sport has never been something that divides people, it has always been something that brings people together.'
The comments prickled the leader of the free world because Trump soon tweeted: 'Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do. I like Mike!'
This is not the first time that LeBron James and Trump have clashed. The basketball player famously called Trump a ‘bum’ last year and tweeted: 'Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump has just made it fashionable again! Statues has nothing to do with us now!'
An now, LeBron James is ruffling more feathers after posting a very beautiful message to Lupita Nyongo and other women of colour doing big things in America.
LeBron wrote on his instagram:
"Nothing in this world is more POWERFUL than Colored Women!! Thank you all for continuing to not settled and setting great examples in life for some many looking up to you for inspiration/guidance and love!! My daughter is watching! #WomenPower💪🏾❤️👑"
He shared a photo of Lupita on the cover of Porter Magazine.
sections of the fans felt that LeBron should laud all women and not just black women like he did in his post.
His post bigged up iconic stars like Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, Tracee Elise Ross, Tifanny Hardish, Rihanna, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Nicki Minaj and Erykah Badu.
LeBron James' fans defended him hotly.
amor.sadie: @jalicea66 douche bag! Go post about your women if you don’t like this guy uplifting black chicks. Instead of bringing negativity to something positive.
jalicea66: @amor.sadie 🤣who died and made you queen of the black pages on IG. I told you. Use the block option if you don’t like what I have to say. Frankly my dear IDGAF! You may think yourself a queen but you are far from being that! You are more like a petulant, disrespectful child. I’m here because I can be! I have a right as an American citizen and as a human being TO VOICE MY OPINION HOWEVER AND WHENEVER I CHOSE TO. 👋🏾👋🏻👋🏿👋🏽👋🏼
notyouravgsarah: @lucas_rahal I guess my “generalization” was a little bit too real for you or struck a serious nerve since you had to go and start cursing. No I will not shut the f*ck up. People keeping their mouths shut about injustice is why it continues to plague this country. Secondly- no not all of us have white slaves owners in our ancestry. I’ve actually done my research (because I’ve been privileged enough to be able to do so) and know when my families immigrated. Third- I made my comment based upon actual research, readings on societal beliefs because I study sociology, psychology and African-American history/culture. Sorry if YOU felt my generalization of “white people” included you, but you can certainly leave me out of any assumptions you have about what I think and believe. Educate yourself before you write something idiotic.
wypipostink: @kingdave49 you hear them as complaints bc you are ignorant. you can’t see past your point of view. and that’s not my problem 🤷🏽♀️ you think life is so black and white. no pun intended. but the systematic racism blacks receive isn’t just a matter of making the right choices every single time. yes it would be best. but are you an upstanding law abiding citizen 100% of the time? you don’t j walk? you’ve never smoked a blunt? people are human. but blacks are held to a higher standard of perfection that even you don’t uphold yourself. you assume i’m black but i’m not. my skin tone resemble more of a white persons. but i have siblings and family members who don’t have that privilege and we can walk into the same places together and instantly we are treated differently all based off of our appearance. and i can relate that to the way hitler believed blond hair and blue eyes was the gold standard but he himself wasn’t that. don’t @ me again. i said what i said. move along.
watermelon_of_london: @sophiaadelcid Persians did that?!? Wow! First whites, now Persians! You really blame everyone, don't ya? What's next? Chinese? 😂😂😂 besides, it was AFRICANS selling AFRICANS!!! Read some history!
jackiesonlylife: You people are just some dumb people because how you goin to call someone racist for praising their own kind , do you not see how this world is going and you guys saying this ain’t goin to change nothin , you guys are just wishing your own time just by saying things like that like “okay” wow you think he’s racist good for you well there’s nothing you can do about it especially when he’s not racist and I don’t understand how he’s racist if someone can explain please do.
