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NBA star LeBron James on Tuesday night clarified comments he made about Brittney Griner’s arrest in Russia, saying she wasn’t “touching our beautiful country.”
The Los Angeles Lakers player had said in the trailer for the latest episode of “The Shop: Uninterrupted,” released Tuesday that he wondered if Griner, a Phoenix Mercury WNBA player, would wonder if the United States supports her. since the government has not taken him out of confinement.
“Now, how can you feel like America has turned its back on you? It would seem to me, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?'” James said in the trailer.
LeBron James # 6 of the Los Angeles Lakers watches during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 1, 2022 at the Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Adam Pantozzi / NBAE via Getty Images)
Griner was arrested in February at an airport near Moscow for allegedly having hashish oil in a vaporizer cartridge in her luggage. He pleaded guilty last Thursday. Griner plays Russia out of season to make money.
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“My comments on‘ The Shop ’about Brittney Griner weren’t hitting our beautiful country,” James tweeted Tuesday night. “I was just saying how you’re probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc. inside that cage you’ve been in for over 100 days! A short #BringHerHome story.”
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WNBA basketball superstar Brittney Griner arrives at a hearing at Khimki Court, outside Moscow, on July 7, 2022. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP via Getty Images)
Griner’s wife, Cherelle, spoke by phone with President Biden this week, who called to “assure her that she is working to secure Brittney’s release as soon as possible, as well as Paul Whelan’s release. and other U.S. citizens who are unjustly detained or held hostage in Russia and around the world, “the White House said.
The US State Department has said removing Griner from Russia remains a “top priority” for the administration.
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LeBron James attends Netflix’s world premiere of “Hustle” at the Regency Village Theater on June 1, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
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Griner was arrested just before Russia invaded Ukraine, which complicated her situation as the US has imposed severe sanctions on Russia for the war.