Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) reacted on Monday to a viral video making its rounds on social media showing a part-owner of an NBA team saying “nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs” in China.
The Biden administration described the abuse of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities in China as “widespread, state-sponsored forced labor” and “mass detention,” according to CNBC.
During an episode of the “All-In” podcast, Chamath Palihapitiya — an executive and part-owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors — said, “Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs, OK? …Of all the things that I care about, yes, [oppression of the Uyghurs] is below my line, OK? … It is below my line.”
“Sickening,” Senator Blackburn replied on Twitter. “More proof the NBA will cozy up to Communist China at all costs, rather than take a stand against Xi’s human rights abuses and targeting of the Muslim Uyghurs.”
Sickening. More proof the NBA will cozy up to Communist China at all costs, rather than take a stand against Xi’s human rights abuses and targeting of the Muslim Uyghurs. https://t.co/uTYplKBdMF
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 17, 2022
Blackburn was not the only prominent political figure to comment on the viral video.
Texas Representative Chip Roy (R-TX-21) wrote on Twitter, “The @NBA doesn’t care, either. These are now all globalists and tyrants. And they are coming after you. #TakeBackAmerica”
The @NBA doesn’t care, either. These are now all globalists and tyrants. And they are coming after you. #TakeBackAmerica https://t.co/nF6oxU4lu8
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 17, 2022
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) tweeted, “We’ve always known that the [NBA] & many of its owners are happy to put profits over people. Now [Palihapitiya] is saying it plain as day: he doesn’t care that Communist China is committing genocide against the Uyghurs. He doesn’t care that millions are sent to forced labor camps.”
“Communist China is imprisoning innocent people simply due to their Muslim faith & silence is appeasement,” Scott continued.
We’ve always known that the @NBA & many of its owners are happy to put profits over people. Now @chamath is saying it plain as day: he doesn’t care that Communist China is committing genocide against the Uyghurs. He doesn’t care that millions are sent to forced labor camps. (1/2) https://t.co/GsvSTrD2Uo
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 17, 2022
The Golden State Warriors released an official statement on Palihapitiya’s comments Monday, “As a limited investor who has no day-to-day operating functions with the Warriors, Mr. Palihapitiya does not speak on behalf of our franchise, and his views certainly don’t reflect those of our organization.”
Warriors statement re: Chamath Palihapitiya: pic.twitter.com/zUl6i9sOve
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) January 17, 2022
After backlash from people, Palihapitiya released a statement clarifying his comments.
“In re-listening to this week’s podcast, I recognize that I come across as lacking empathy. I acknowledge that entirely. As a refugee, my family fled a country with its own set of human rights issues so this is something that is very much a part of my lived experience. To be clear, my belief is that human rights matter, whether in China, the United States, or elsewhere,” he tweeted.
Important issues deserve nuanced discussions. Some clarifying comments: pic.twitter.com/St2jccsu05
— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) January 18, 2022
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Chamath Palihapitiya” by All-In Podcast.
