LeBron James calls out double standard over Jerry Jones' whitelash

Los Angeles, California - LeBron James called out double standards over the media's handling of the controversy around Kyrie Irving versus Jerry Jones following the Los Angeles Lakers' 128-109 win against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (l.) has called out double standards after photo evidence came to light of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones trying to block Black students from entering a school in 1957.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (l.) has called out double standards after photo evidence came to light of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones trying to block Black students from entering a school in 1957.  © Collage: REUTERS & TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP, REUTERS

"I got one question for you guys before you guys leave," James said to reporters during a post-game press conference on Wednesday. "I was wondering why I haven't gotten a question from you guys about the Jerry Jones photo, but when the Kyrie [Irving] thing was going on, you guys were quick to ask us questions about that."

James was referring to a photograph that shows Jerry Jones, long-time owner and president of the Dallas Cowboys, joining a group of white students blocking Black students from entering an Arkansas school during desegregation in 1957. The image was published by the Washington Post on November 23.

The Lakers forward contrasted the media's response to the photo with the fallout that occurred after Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving shared an image of an antisemitic movie on social media. Irving faced a temporary suspension from NBA games. He was allowed to return to play after issuing an official apology and committing to donate $500,000 to anti-hate groups.

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"That Jerry Jones photo is one of those moments that our people, Black people, have been through in America, and I feel like, as a Black man, as a Black athlete, as someone with power and a platform, when we do something wrong or something that people don't agree with [...] it's asked about every single day," James said on Wednesday. "But it seems like to me, the whole Jerry Jones situation [...] has just been buried under like, 'Oh, it happened. Okay, we just move on.'"

"I was just disappointed that I didn't receive that question from you guys," James said as he left the news conference.

Cover photo: Collage: REUTERS & TOM PENNINGTON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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