Los Angeles Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell lost his grandmother last year, and has unfortunately been on the end of some vitriolic comments on social media.
Harrell revealed Friday he is still coping with his grandmother's death and told reporters he was dismayed at Lakers fans making nasty remarks about her passing after L.A. lost Game 6 to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday:
“I find everyday challenging, brother,” Harrell said when asked about his grandmother, via Harrison Faigen of SB Nation. “I still find it challenging every day. Especially when there's dummies out there, heartless people who get on social media and just say the things that they say. I still get people, even to [Thursday] night people have the nerve to get on social media and say ‘f my grandmother.' Which they wouldn't dare say to my face in any circumstance.”
This serves as yet another reminder social media can be a pretty appalling and hateful atmosphere. It's unfortunate ‘Trez had to deal with such spiteful remarks that really have no place in any sort of discourse.
Harrell did say he would not be broken down by the hurtful remarks, adding he draws strength from his other family member. Still, he was very honest about how his grandmother's death continues to impact him to this day.
https://twitter.com/hmfaigen/status/1400904609078530049
Professional athletes often seem to catch the most flak online especially because sports are such a lucrative business and people act as though they can say anything with impunity.
These NBA playoffs have been an unfortunate reminder of how some fans still treat these as commodities, rather than humans. Players like Kyrie Irving have had bottles thrown at them, while Trae Young was spat on.
One would hope people can show some decency moving forward and gain some perspective of how they might feel had they lost a loved one in the past year, as ‘Trez has.
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