“LeBron James is a selective activist”: Lakers star gets flamed for not openly advocating for the Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game

LeBron James seems to have unwittingly caused some controversy on All-Star night. The Lakers star didn’t openly say that he’d be getting the Covid vaccine.

There is little reason for anyone today not to openly advocate for a Covid vaccine. There are some admitted concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine against different strains.

As an NBA player, James is already having to lead a really cautious life. He has lived in a bio-bubble of sorts all through the past year. He’s been giving out negative tests practically every day for the past 8 months.

One would think that he would feel some sort of way about getting the vaccine and getting this ordeal done with. But James said nothing definitive about whether or not he’d take the vaccine, once it’s made available to him:

“That’s a conversation that my family and I will have. …Keep that to a private thing.”

Asked if he will get vaccinated LeBron James says – “That’s a conversation that my family and I will have. …Keep that to a private thing.”

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) March 7, 2021

Also Read: Kawhi Leonard feels no energy or excitement ahead of the 2021 NBA All-Star Game: “Atlanta is usually pretty turnt up, but this year it’s dead to us players”

The internet criticizes LeBron James for his response to Covid-19 vaccine question

As expected all of the LeBron haters turned up from out of the woodworks to use this heaven-sent opportunity and criticize him.

Like…this is really bad.

— Patrick Fenelon 🌹 (@Patrick_Fenelon) March 7, 2021

A leader would encourage others to get vaccinated. Another LeBron fail.

— Fovillian (@fovillian_419) March 7, 2021

What??!
Popovich, Bill Russell and Kareem publicly urge people to get vaccinated, but for LeBron this important public health issue is suddendly a private matter?
Even though he said that he will continue to talk about politics. pic.twitter.com/tHwyVMjxIH

— Felix Benkenstein (@F_Benk) March 7, 2021

Just like his political opinions should be private

— Hybrid Theory (@FelineQuickness) March 7, 2021

Of course he & others say trust the science where a mask stay inside etc. etc. but when the vaccine comes out he no longer trust the science?

— awawb (@TonyH15177538) March 7, 2021

This should be an easy ‘yes’

— Baseball is almost back (@LastWordWilliam) March 7, 2021

I like LeBron, but for all his talk about wanting to be more than an athlete…….this is wrong.

— Marc Keller (@mrarmchair) March 7, 2021

People have brought up his response to Zlatan’s criticism to compare and contrast the difference in his stance and his real answers. The Covid vaccine is something that has been politicized by people for no apparent reason.

Also Read: “I don’t really care about LeBron James’ Utah Jazz comments”: Donovan Mitchell defiant when asked about the Lakers star’s joke about his franchise during the 2021 NBA All-Star draft

That is the double-edged sword that somebody with this level of scrutiny has to skirt.