“South Park” has already dunked on L.A. Lakers star LeBron James over his response to Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s tweet about China.
“Yes, we do all have freedom of speech,” Cartman, who is recovering from a heart attack, yelled Wednesday night at a group of South Park Elementary students who are trying to remove meat from the cafeteria. “But at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others and you’re only thinking about yourself!”
“They’re trying to take people’s lunch,” Cartman complained to school counselor Mr. Mackey. “They don’t realize it harms people financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”
#SouthPark23 pic.twitter.com/lqZbv6uJsW
— South Park (@SouthPark) October 17, 2019
Those quotes look familiar?
During an interview Monday after a preseason game, James said about the matter: “I don’t want to get into a feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand.”
“Many people could have been harmed not only financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually,” James continued. “So just be careful what we tweet and say and we do, even though, yes, we do have freedom of speech, but there can be a lot of negative that comes with that, too.”
Later that night, James tweeted: “Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk About that.”
He added: “My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it.”
See those below.
Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk About that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
Wednesday night’s “South Park” also included a sendup of “There Will Be Blood.” Watch the episode here.
On Oct. 4, Morey tweeted in support of the Hong Kong protests. In retaliation, the Chinese government canceled or postponed several NBA preseason events in China.
The situation got worse after the NBA offered differing statements, tepidly defending Morey in English, and profusely apologizing in Chinese. Soon after, a bipartisan congressional group that included New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz harshly criticized the league in a statement, saying in part that it is “outrageous that the NBA has caved to Chinese government demands for contrition.”