In an interview with Discovery +, soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan talked about Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and how people of high stature should stick to what they do best and avoid involvement with politics.
“[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he's doing, but I don't like when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time,” Ibrahimovic said. “Do what you're good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I'm the best at playing football.”
James went on to reply to the AC Milan striker, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN:
“He was the same guy who said when he was back in Sweden … because his last name wasn't a certain last name, that he felt there was some racism going on when he was out on the pitch. I speak from a very educated mind, so I'm kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework.”
Ibrahimovic had mentioned in the past that because of his Bosnian heritage he was treated differently in his native country of Sweden compared to those with traditional, Swedish names.
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James would go on to say. I preach about my people, and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic voter suppression. Things that go on in our community.”
LeBron's More Than A Vote organization was key in mobilizing over 40,000 volunteers, who were deployed at polling centers in last year's general election to fight against voter suppression.
“I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that may be going on, not only in my community but around this country and around the world,” LeBron James added. “So, there's no way I would ever just stick to sports, because I understand how this platform and how powerful my voice is.”
One of LeBron James' most significant social contributions is the birth of the I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio made possible by his Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. The school provides education to at-risk children and has a holistic approach to supporting the community by also having a meal program and job training for the students' families among other things.
Ibrahimovic's recent statement is another in a long line of “shut up and dribble” remarks directed at LeBron, none of which have stopped him from being vocal about social issues and a force for his community.
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