Advertisement

Uproar over sheriff's $175,000 demand of LeBron James

LeBron James wearing a Black Lives Matter movement t-shirt in a media conference.
LeBron James wearing a Black Lives Matter movement t-shirt in the NBA. (Getty Images)

Vanessa Bryant has slammed an LA County Sheriff after he challenged LeBron James to match a donation to help the manhunt for an alleged shooter of two police officers.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva called on James to donate $175,000 to help find an alleged shooter of two wounded police officers after the NBA star has called out law enforcement recently.

‘INSANE’: NBA stunned by 'Herculean' game-winning play

‘EVIL GENIUS’: Uproar over NBA coach's devious act

Villanueva appeared to want James to publicly show his support for officers in the line of duty.

“I want to make a challenge,” Villanueva said.

“This challenge is to LeBron James. I want you to match that and double that reward.

“Because I know you care about law enforcement, you expressed a very, very interesting statement about your perspective on race relations and officer-involved shootings and the impact it has on the African American community. And I appreciate that.

“But likewise, we need to appreciate that respect for life goes across professions, across race.

“And I’d like to see LeBron James step up to the plate and double that.”

The sheriff was referring to a lone gunman who allegedly approached and shot two deputies in their patrol car on Saturday in Compton, California, leaving the unidentified 31-year-old woman and 24-year-old man hospitalised, where they were reported to be in stable condition as of Monday afternoon.

Vanessa Bryant joins frustration over LeBron challenge

But the challenge didn’t sit well with Vanessa Bryant, the widow of Kobe Bryant, who claimed James didn’t have to donate or prove anything.

She even called out the sheriff after photos of Kobe and their daughter Gianna’s helicopter crash wreckage were allegedly leaked and found there way onto the internet.

Vanessa Bryant shared this post to her Instagram story. (Image: Instagram)
Vanessa Bryant shared this post to her Instagram story. (Image: Instagram)
Vanessa Bryant shared this post to her Instagram story. (Image: Instagram)
Vanessa Bryant shared this post to her Instagram story. (Image: Instagram)

LeBron James advocates social justice issues

James is outspoken when it comes to social justice issues and has called out law enforcement recently.

He recently tweeted his shock at the law enforcement after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Reports suggest this was the statement Sheriff Villanueva was referencing.

“And y’all wonder why we say what we say about the Police!!” James wrote on Twitter alongside a video of the shooting. “Someone please tell me WTF is this???!!! Exactly another black man being targeted. This s**t is so wrong and so sad!! Feel so sorry for him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want JUSTICE”.

With Jacob Owens - Yahoo Sport US