'Go To China': UFC Star Blasts Lebron James For Refusing To Stand For National Anthem

On Wednesday evening, UFC athlete Colby Covington slammed NBA star Lebron James after the basketball player refused to stand for the National Athem earlier this week. Covington made the comments ahead of his upcoming fight with Leon Edwards in UFC 296 this weekend.

In the video that featured James walking into the USC arena in Los Angeles, the professional athlete can be seen walking into the stadium and sitting down while the National Athem was being sung. James' actions received cosniderable criticism online with fellow NBA player Enes Freedom writing, "Lebron James stands for whoever gives him money! He would have stood with his hand on his heart if that was the Chinese National Anthem! He has no respect for the men and women who defend our country, so that he can live his life freely. Poor example of leadership and an embarrassment to the [NBA]. He has no respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire,  and a worldwide basketball star."
 

Colby Covington weighed in to the situation by demanding that James leave the country if he refuses to respect its anthem. "If you hate America so much, and you don’t like this country that gave you a billion dollars – leave it," Covington said about the Los Angeles Lakers player. "Or come deal with me. Go to China. Go to these sweatshops that you employ all these laborers and use these women and pay them pennies on the dollar to make your millions."

"F*ck you LeBron James," he said. "You’re a coward. You’re a spineless coward and you’re a b*tch."

Others online weighed in to the controversy with Collin Rugg writing, "LeBron James casually walks into the basketball arena while the National Anthem is playing and takes a seat. Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star. Zero respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire. Zero respect for the men and women who defend our country so he can live his life. Shameful."

Reporter Luca Evans, who filmed the viral video, explained, "As the reporter who took this video, this is gross and completely mischaracterizes the situation. LeBron has done this for YEARS in Bronny’s time at Sierra Canyon. It’s objectively the best time to walk in so he doesn’t cause a massive stir. Stop it."

Lebron James' behavior is shameful and his anti-Americanism deserves to be punished by basketball fans using their wallets to stand against those who refuse to respect the country.

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