April 29, 2021
ESPN’s Sage Steele Gets the Business From Twitter for Response to LAPD Officer’s Tweet to LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers basketball player LeBron James created some dialogue when he tweeted a photograph of the latest police officer to shoot and kill a Black person, a teenager in Columbus, Ohio, and wrote: “YOU’RE NEXT #ACCOUNTABILITY.” Presumably speaking about being the next police officer charged and convicted in killing a Black person, in reference to Derek Chauvin being found guilty of killing George Floyd.
A police officer responded to James’ tweet on his Facebook page:
“Your current stance on policing is so off base and extreme. Your tweet that targeted a police officer in Ohio who saved a young woman’s life was irresponsible and disturbing. It showed a complete lack of understanding of the challenge of our job in the heat of a moment. You basically put a target on the back of a human being who had to make a split second decision to save a life from a deadly attack.”
He then offers to meet with James:
“I don’t know if this will ever reach you, but my hope is that one day I can sit down with you and talk. As a man of faith, I can have no hatred toward you. But I do feel I can help you understand the reality of the profession of policing, and that there is another side you need to hear.”
Based on this Facebook post, ESPN’s Sage Steele responded with prayer hands on her Twitter account.
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) April 27, 2021
This caused a backlash toward Steele as Twitter users went at her for acknowledging that post from the police officer.
I read the letter and he’s missing the entire point, we know that the Job is hard no one questioned that, however what LBJ and millions of others are calling out are the the bad apples that this Deon guy fails to call out so he’s protecting the system and proving our point.
— Delare B. (@Bess_Buy) April 27, 2021
We never hear you speaking out about injustice .. ever
— 🇪🇷East African Assassin🏁 (@thereal_Dash_O) April 27, 2021
— Aspiring Adult (@damnelace) April 27, 2021
Theses people tolerate everything from racists to get white acceptance. Here is the same black woman, playing: “My white boyfriend touch my hair for the first time 🥰” pic.twitter.com/9QZyOLdojF
— Yen.i 👑 (@yensilver2010) April 27, 2021
Is this coming from the lady that let a man pet her on the head on National tv?
— Terrell (@soupaTee) April 29, 2021
— ArtDopeDealer 🎨 (@SeeMid_Tweet) April 27, 2021
didn’t you vote for ted cruz
— ash (@AshyCrabbeCake) April 28, 2021
Sage Steele been a c👀n, nothing new and nothing to see here, move along everyone! 😂😂😂😂
— 🏁WestCoast 🏁 (@cali4niaboiii) April 29, 2021
Performative. Try again sage. You been suspect for a while now
— Tyrone Boyer (@boyer_tyrone) April 28, 2021
Sage is a trumper
— JP Stingley (@JpSting) April 27, 2021
If he’s that interested in change, he should probably talk to his fellow officers about the way they police black people. Why doesn’t he start with his fellow officers to educate them before trying to sit down with an athlete? Change starts from the inside!
— Will B Right (@bradboy29) April 27, 2021