UFC contender Colby Covington did not mince words when responding to LeBron James’ decision to sit for the national anthem while attending his son’s USC debut over the weekend. Covington — a longtime critic of James — called the NBA superstar a “spineless coward” and told him to leave America if he hates it so much.
“If you hate America so much and you don’t like this country that gave you a billion dollars, leave it. Or come deal with me,” Covington told reporters Wednesday ahead of his title fight with UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards on Saturday. “Go to China. Go to these sweatshops that you employ all these laborers and use these women and pay them pennies on the dollar to make your millions. F**k you, LeDrama James. You’re a coward. You’re a spineless coward, and you’re a b**ch.”
James — who has repeatedly criticized America as a “racist” country and demonized police — set the internet on fire over the weekend after he opted to sit for the national anthem. While he did not appear to be making a political statement in this instance, James has knelt for the anthem before games in the past, namely after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
After the shooting of Jacob Blake — a convicted sex offender who was shot while attempting to kidnap a child — James argued that the shooting shows why black Americans are “terrified” of the police. He also threatened an officer involved in the shooting of Ma’Khia Bryant, who was shot while attempting to stab another girl.
Covington has repeatedly referred to James as a “spineless coward” for his attacks on law enforcement personnel and the country’s values as a whole.
“Before I go, I want to say a big thank you to the real heroes and celebrities in this country. Not that woke, spineless coward like LeBron James,” Covington told Joe Rogan after wrapping up his weigh-in interview ahead of UFC 272 last year. “I’m talking about our heroes, law enforcement, military, our first responders. God bless you; God bless you all. God bless America.”