In a press release issued on Friday, Project 21, a project of the National Center for Public Policy Research that focuses on black leadership, slammed NBA blowhard LeBron James as a hypocrite for claiming America is a racist country while wearing the logo of an online retailer that sells Confederate merchandise.
Wish is an online platform that connects consumers with third-party sellers and offers “a wide array of Confederate-themed items including Confederate flag pillows, blankets, kids’ military uniforms, portraits of Confederate generals and even anti-COVID face masks featuring the rebel flag,” according to Project 21.
“Prior to the start of the 2017-2018 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers signed a three-season deal with Wish” Project 21 member Martin Baker wrote in the press release. “Lakers Chief Operating Officer Tim Harris called Wish ‘a company that shares our commitment to giving back to the community.’ Of course, when that community is the Lakers, and it is getting $12-14 million every season for the label rights, I guess it overlooked some of the products sold by Wish that should be decried by the team’s star player.
“Amidst all of the controversy over the Confederate flag, will James now call out his employers – who just extended his contract through 2023 – over the products that their sponsor sells?” Baker continued. “Or is he happy just cashing his own checks? Hypocrisy, thy name is the average professional athlete.”
“Let’s face it, LeBron is a publicity hog. We all can figure LeBron hasn’t done any due diligence into the practices of Wish and probably never will,” added Project 21 member Donna Jackson. “LeBron likes to position himself as a social justice warrior, but his primary wishes are really to stay in the news cycle and to generate profits – for him and his sponsors. Since his activism has almost single-handedly tanked NBA ratings over the past two years, I’m sure this wish won’t become a reality.”