Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said he has lost popularity for speaking out on social issues, but that won’t deter him from continuing to do so.
James’ social stance was one of several topics covered on the first episode of “The Shop,” which aired Tuesday night.
“I want the satisfaction. Not for myself, but for everybody else. I was raised off of [rappers] Snoop [Dogg] and [Tupac] and [Jay-Z] and Biggie [Smalls], and now I get an opportunity to be the inspiration around what all of these kids are looking up to? And for me to just sit back and not say s— when a lot of my peers didn’t say s—? It didn’t feel right,” James said on the debut episode of “The Shop,” an HBO show featuring an unscripted discussion between James and other athletes and entertainers.
LeBron has repeatedly expressed his opinion on the state of race relations in America and shared public criticisms of President Donald Trump.
Green, James and Beckham were joined by WNBA star Candace Parker, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Michael Bennett, comedian Jon Stewart, rapper Snoop Dogg, rapper Vince Staples and comedian Jerrod Carmichael in the first episode.
