Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is tearing into LeBron James for what he believes is a “grossly irresponsible” tweet about one of the officers involved in the shooting of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant in Columbus, Ohio.
James wrote in a since-deleted tweet on Wednesday a photo of the officer and wrote, “YOU’RE NEXT. [ACCOUNTABILITY].”
Cruz told “Fox News Primetime,” “The left consistently goes after, attacks and demonizes police officers, and they do so often before the facts are known, often before there is any evidence of what happened. But their immediate reaction, whenever there is an incident, is that the police officer is in the wrong.”
He added, “In this instance, ‘you’re next’ could certainly be interpreted by some, even, as a call for violence. I think it was a grossly irresponsible message for LeBron James to send out.”
Acknowledging there needs to be an investigation into the shooting, Cruz added, “The facts should be determined, but the left doesn’t care about the facts, they care about demonizing and attacking law enforcement and I think it’s wrong.”
Watch the interview below:
James later deleted the tweet after receiving significant backlash and provided an explanation as to why he did.
“I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. I took the tweet down because its being used to create more hate -This isn’t about one officer. It’s about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY,” James wrote.
I’m so damn tired of seeing Black people killed by police. I took the tweet down because its being used to create more hate -This isn’t about one officer. it’s about the entire system and they always use our words to create more racism. I am so desperate for more ACCOUNTABILITY
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
He also added, “ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself! Gathering all the facts and educating does though! My anger still is here for what happened that lil girl. My sympathy for her family and may justice prevail!”
ANGER does any of us any good and that includes myself! Gathering all the facts and educating does though! My anger still is here for what happened that lil girl. My sympathy for her family and may justice prevail! ??✊???
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 21, 2021
Nicholas Reardon was identified as the officer who appeared to fire four shots at Bryant. The body-camera video also appeared to show Bryant holding a knife and lunging at two people. Protests immediately broke out in Columbus.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident, as IJR reported.
“The killing of 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant by the Columbus police is tragic. She was a child. We’re thinking of her friends and family and the communities that are hurting and grieving her loss,” Psaki said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Psaki also noted Bryant’s death came “just as America was hopeful of a step forward after the traumatic and exhausting trial of Derek Chauvin and the verdict that was reached.”
