Backlash over Lebron James controversial comments

This appeared in The Millennial Source

The international uproar ignited by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s now deleted, pro-democracy Hong Kong tweet has again raised the question of how much Western companies have to censor to appease the Asian powerhouse.

Released on October 4, the tweet led to Chinese state-run television broadcaster CCTV refusing to broadcast two National Basketball Association (NBA) pre-season games in Shanghai and Shenzhen. The tweet also caused several Chinese sponsors to distance themselves from the NBA. As a result, the NBA has reportedly lost all its major Chinese sponsors. This includes a local joint venture of Nissan Motor Co., China’s largest sportswear manufacturer, the nation’s second-largest dairy company, and a smartphone brand.

Aside from the sponsorships, China remains the largest market for the NBA outside of the US. A multi-billion-dollar marriage tied up in merchandise sales, media rights, and streaming profits.

On October 17, NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a public statement supporting his employees’ right to freedom of speech. Silver…