LeBron James Schooling Laura Ingraham Leads To Demand For Sponsors To Drop Fox News Host
By Ryan Naumann on June 5, 2020 at 7:40 AM EDT
The uproar over “racist” comments made by Fox News host Laura Ingraham has led to pressure being put on her show sponsors.
The whole situation started after Ingraham spoke about the criticism Drew Brees received after coming out with anti-kneeling remarks. The Fox News host supported the NFL star expressing his opinion saying, “he’s allowed to have his view about what kneeling and the flag means to him, I mean he’s a person, he has some worth I imagine. This is beyond football.”
Her view that Brees should be able to share his opinion on politics is interesting given her infamous 2018 comments to LeBron James and Kevin Durant. During a segment on her show, Ingraham spoke to James and Durant, “it’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball. LeBron and Kevin, you’re great players but nobody voted for you. Millions elected Trump to be their coach. So keep the politic commentary to yourself or as someone once said “Shut up and dribble”
If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here???? 🤦🏾♂️. And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see https://t.co/e4pJ0PvwJj
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 4, 2020
Getty
It’s pretty clear, Ingraham feels a white athlete has the right to say how he feels but wants black athletes to “shut up and dribble.”
LeBron James fired off a message to the Fox News host after catching her comments about Brees. He wrote, “If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here???? ??♂. And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see.”
Twitter was quick to roast Ingraham calling her a “racist ass bitch.” One person wrote, “Many many people are saying Laura Ingraham is a racist ass bitch who should be fired from FoxNews.”
Another said, “It’s should be no surprise that Laura Ingraham would defend Drew Brees saying he deserves an opinion when once telling LeBron James to keep his opinions to himself and to shut up and dribble. Her own brother Curtis calls her a racist and a monster. She’s a White Supremacist.”
But I will never vacation at one of your resorts as long as you advertise on her show. And I will discourage my friends and family from doing so as long as you support her racist, hategul, neo-facist messages. cc: @slpng_giants 2/2
— Chris (get vaccinated) Ferris (@FerrisOnline) June 4, 2020
Getty
The anger at her comments has turned into demands for her sponsors to stop advertising on her Fox New show. One person called out two sponsors, “Laura Ingraham has never hid who she is The question is why does corporate advertisers - like @bookingcom and @safelite - sponsor her show knowing who she is?”
“@SandalsResorts Just found out you still appear to be a sponsor of Laura Ingraham's toxic show on Fox. You can continue to advertise with that program if you wish. But I will never vacation at one of your resorts as long as you advertise on her show. And I will discourage my friends and family from doing so as long as you support her racist, hategul, neo-facist messages, “said one person on Twitter.
@SandalsResorts @LifeLock @safelite @WeatherTech @usaa @bayer @stampsCom Is this racist message OK with you? You sponsor Laura Ingraham? I'm canceling https://t.co/TS0QkTPljj & USAA today. https://t.co/zmjgpl97Mk
— Steve Hare (@share24) June 4, 2020
Getty
Last night, Ingraham responded to the criticism on The Ingraham Angle.
She said, "Well, without dwelling on the nuance between the two instances, let me be very clear about what I believe: We are all children of God, regardless of our racial or political differences and therefore must be treated equally."
"Every American, every-American has the God-given right to speak his mind on any issue. I think in order to heal and shed light on gross injustices, our country needs more dialogue, not less. And we need more respect, less retribution."
"Emotions are hot right now and unfortunately, in times like these, we often find ourselves, I know it’s easy to do, talking past each other."
"Right now Americans, I think most of them, are looking for reconciliation. That means politicians, police, and even cultural figures all working together. All of us.
We are all human beings on this earth for a very short period of time when you think about it, This is a moment when we should be listening and learning. All of us."