LeBron James once raged against the machine. Increasingly, he helps prop it up
LeBron James was once one of the world’s most outspoken athletes. Now he’s plugging a predictions market and an authoritarian leader
TL;DR
- LeBron James, previously outspoken on social issues, has become less vocal and is now promoting a predictions market and associating with authoritarian leaders.
- James and Will Smith visited Angola, meeting with President João Lourenço, ostensibly to promote tourism and heritage tourism related to the African diaspora.
- The visits are criticized for providing soft power to Lourenço, whose government has implemented restrictive laws affecting civil society organizations and free expression.
- Angola's government is actively investing in sports and entertainment to gain soft power benefits, a tactic also employed by authoritarian regimes like Rwanda under Paul Kagame.
- Other athletes like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have also promoted regimes with human rights concerns.
- The article suggests James could use his influence to support Angolan people without legitimizing their authoritarian ruler.