Former NBA star Dwight Howard recently shared a revealing anecdote about a 2014 tweet that almost killed the NBA champion’s career. In the interview, Howard describes a 2014 visit to a Houston movie theatre where he was approached by a group of Palestinian fans. They expressed their admiration and asked to watch the film with him. Known for his frequent interactions with fans, Howard says he agreed warmly.
After the movie, while taking photos with the group, the fans spoke about the struggles in their homeland and asked him to raise awareness. Moved by their plea, the former NBA star reflected on the importance of using his platform. Shortly after, he tweeted “Free Palestine” - a gesture to shed light on his fans’ experiences.
Following the tweet, he says that within minutes, he started receiving calls from the NBA commissioner, agents, and people working with his foundation. “You’ve got to erase this tweet. You’ve got to take this down. You’re going to get in trouble,” Howard was told. According to his account, Howard said he couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.
within minutes, he started receiving calls from the NBA commissioner, agents, and people working with his foundation
Very cool to be that level of professionally handled. Getting suffocating 1984 vibes off this degree of surveillance and response.
And it’s not like NBA players never take political stances. But woe betide you if you espouse the wrong ones. 🙄
So that’s why he fell off the face of the earth after being the next big thing in the NBA
Nah, he just got old.
Really strange how some kind of shadowy cabal of people took umbrage to a tweet about Palestine. I wonder who would do that?
