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'Wakanda Forever': Sports world pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
LeBron James (pictured left) and Lewis Hamilton (pictured right) perform the 'Wakanda Forever' salute after the death of actor Chadwick Boseman (pictured middle). (Getty Images)

The sport world, including LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton, has paid tribute to Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman after his family announced he died from cancer.

Boseman, the star of Marvel’s mega-hit Black Panther, died on Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 43.

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Boseman played Jackie Robinson in the 2013 film ‘42,’ and died on Major League Baseball’s annual day of celebration for the player that broke down colour barriers within the sport.

Depsite his many movies, Boseman was best-known for playing Marvel character King T’Challa.

A statement from Boseman’s Twitter account confirmed the news.

"It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman," the statement read.

"It was the honour of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

His role in Black Panther was a watershed moment in Hollywood and inspired millions around the world to adopt the ‘Wakanda Forever’ pose.

Following the news, players paid their respects to the actor.

NBA star LeBron James adopted the ‘Wakanda Forever’ pose as the LA Lakers gave a moment of silence to honour the actor.

Teams also paid respect to Boseman before their playoff games.

F1 champ Lewis Hamilton stood on his Mercedes and pulled the pose before the Belgium qualifying round.

Lewis Hamilton poses with 'Wakanda Forever' on top of his Mercedes.
Pole position qualifier Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme. (Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also celebrated with ‘Wakanda Forever’ when he put Arsenal up against Liverpool in the Community Shield match.

MLS star Keaton Park also celebrated in the same fashion.

Arsenals Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game by doing a Wakanda Forever salute in tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman.
Arsenals Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game by doing a Wakanda Forever salute in tribute to actor Chadwick Boseman. (Photo by Justin Tallis/PA Images via Getty Images)

Baseball also paid its respect.

The LA Dodgers and San Deigo Padres stood for a moment of silence.

The players were wearing No.42 in memory of Jackie Robinson, an aforementioned trailblazing baseball star Boseman played in a film.

Tennis star Serena Williams praised Boseman’s ability to bring ‘millions and millions’ of people together.

Former WWE wrestler The Rock also paid his respects to a fellow Hollywood star.