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NBA legend LeBron James has received backlash after posting a COVID-19 post on his instagram page.
The Los Angeles Lakers star, who has won four NBA championships, took to Instagram to share the classic Spider-Man meme on Christmas Eve.
The pictured features three different versions of the friendly neighbourhood superhero, with the words "covid', "cold" and "flu" on each one.
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Posting on his main feed to his 106 million followers, the 36-year-old captioned it, "Help me out folks," with a shrugging emoji at the start.
Over two million people liked the post and there were comments from Jamie Foxx, rapper Fabolous and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.
But many felt James was wrong to share such a post and condemned the "dangerous" and "insensitive" content he shared.
The “face of the league” is telling the world, because of his personal inconvenience (due to HIS choosing of a roster), that Covid is the same as a cold.
— L-Dot (@clarkkent415) December 24, 2021
That’s dangerous and insensitive on so many levels. We all know how influential he is. https://t.co/69jahCLHUK
this is so extremely irresponsible @KingJames. People from ur own NBA family have seen what Covid can do and how hard it can hit. Do better pic.twitter.com/qLD6GaqOZx
— Ryan (@prodiskplayer) December 24, 2021
This is far too reductionist and plays into and reinforces a lot of the misinformation we've had over the past 2 years about "it's just the flu". Yes, the landscape of COVID is changing and our tools are changing but portraying it like this isn't the way to do it
— Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT (@3cbPerformance) December 24, 2021
LeBron James drew a BIG reaction from fans when he posted this COVID-related meme on Instagram pic.twitter.com/aoYBnZjx4g
— Steve DelVecchio (@SteveDelSports) December 24, 2021
idk if LeBron wants to go around slandering COVID like this when it won him a championsh...nvm
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) December 24, 2021
I’ll help! Covid is the one that killed 800,000 in the USA in the last 20 months you fucking moron @KingJames pic.twitter.com/GH9qkOPoQk
— brandon (@bagnew7) December 24, 2021
For someone that’s worked with covid patients and others that have lost a loved one to covid, this is such a stupid thing to see. Just shut up for once @KingJames pic.twitter.com/jKw6IA0d4x
— Ruhi Khan (@ruhikhan_) December 24, 2021
Lebron James with all due respect 5.4 million ppl have died cuz of covid ,have some kinda respect man ,you got the money and power not many ppl have the same and poor people have died just cuz there was no enough oxygen in hospital cuz of case surge.
— Gowtham (klawmination is upon us) (@Destinys_Eye) December 24, 2021
Idk what’s up with you my man pic.twitter.com/EbUPpVmkHH
so trump is telling people to get a vaccine and booster while lebron james tells everyone covid is just a cold
— OVERREACTING YANKEE FAN (GO KNICKS!) (@OVERREACTINGYA1) December 24, 2021
did not have this on my omricon variant covid-19 bingo card
James is fully vaccinated but said he would not promote vaccination for others as he didn't "feel like for me personally that I should get involved in what other people should do for their bodies and their livelihoods".
He recently had a false positive COVID test that many believe his controversial post is related to.
In November, the NBA said they had a 97 per cent vaccination rate amongst their players and recommended booster jabs, with the league having strict healthy and safety protocols in place.
Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets, a former teammate of James' has refused to get the vaccine, which in turn has meant he is unable to play in home games due to a vaccine mandate in New York for professional athletes.
The Nets recently announced the 29-year-old would be used as a part-time player for games not staged in New York and Toronto.
In October, during an Instagram Live, Irving addressed the situation, saying: “I am doing what’s best for me. I know the consequences here and if it means that I’m judged and demonized for that, that’s just what it is.
“That’s the role I play, but I never wanted to give up my passion, my love, my dream just over this mandate.”
Kyrie Irving address his stance on not getting the vaccine on IG Live: “It’s about choosing what’s best for you. You think I really want to lose money? You think I really want to give up on my dream to go after a championship? You think I really just want to give up my job?” pic.twitter.com/cYHCWGbnCo
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 14, 2021
Featured Image Credit: Image: PA
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