NJ Congressman Backs LeBron James' Claims About Bias In Sports Media

NEW JERSEY — Basketball superstar LeBron James has found support for his claims about “sports media bias” against Black athletes from a congressman in New Jersey.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. spoke on the House floor about previous statements from James, who has accused the media industry of leaping to cover negative stories about Black athletes – such as accusations of antisemitism against Kyrie Irving – while ignoring questionable actions from white sports figures.

Payne, who represents the state’s 10th Congressional district, issued the following remark about the controversy to his peers in the House of Representatives:

“I rise today to commend basketball superstar LeBron James for calling out the sports media bias. Late last year, a photo resurfaced of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones blocking the integration of an Arkansas high school in 1957. Mr. James was asked why he was not getting any questions about this photo, and stated that the media had plenty of questions after former teammate Kyrie Irving promoted an antisemitic film on social media. Jerry Jones owns an $8 billion sports franchise, the world's most valuable one, according to Forbes, and the Cowboys ranked among the worst NFL teams for minority hiring. The possible connection between these points is far more important that the hateful beliefs of one basketball player, yet the media asked about Irving and stays quiet about Jones.”

“It is a question the media needs to answer for James and the Black community in America,” Payne concluded.

The recently redrawn 10th district includes the following municipalities:

• Essex County – Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Newark (part), Orange, Verona, West Orange
• Hudson County – Jersey City (part)
• Union County – Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park, Union Township

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