Jason Whitlock probably won’t be appearing on LeBron James’ new “unscripted” TV show The Shop which premiered Tuesday night on HBO.
Set in an apparently mythical barbershop, Whitlock claimed that the NBA superstar who joined the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent made a fool of himself in something akin to a minstrel show and fake news.
He described the “inauthentic” presentation as a “profane, primitive, and privileged” look inside the fantasy world of black millionaires sipping goblets of wine in an environment which is far removed from reality.
The host of Speak for Yourself, Whitlock is one of the very few commentators in sports journalism, at least on television, who articulates a different view from the groupthink of the politically correct blue-check Twitter cohort.
Watch the FS1 video clips below and draw your own conclusions.
Whitlock: Profanity-laced 'The Shop' diminishes LeBron's brand & reputation. pic.twitter.com/kDXLn5Jc7b
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) August 29, 2018
Dahntay: LeBron's new show "The Shop" was indicative of black barbershops in today's culture. @dahntay1 pic.twitter.com/V74VkCl1PC
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) August 29, 2018
Whitlock: "These are all private plane people. These were all people who have their own personal barbers who come to their homes. They ain't been in barbershops like I've been." (Part 2) @WhitlockJason pic.twitter.com/VRPquwWq43
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) August 29, 2018
Whitlock: If you want to be an intellectual thought leader, then your thoughts need to be challenged. (Part 3) @WhitlockJason pic.twitter.com/pJEiOR5QXX
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) August 30, 2018
Separately, during the show, James apparently complained about basketball fans — who have made him a fabulously wealthy international celebrity — coming up to him to ask for pictures.
Added: On tonight’s FS1 broadcast, Whitlock doubled down on his criticism of the LeBron James show that he describes as a “layup line” and that features pampered, whiny celebrities complaining about “high-class victimhood” who are nonetheless living the American dream.
Whitlock: Off the court, LeBron prefers to be worshipped rather than challenged. @WhitlockJason pic.twitter.com/2lOALv5nGU
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) August 30, 2018
LeBron James apologist Dahntay Jones defended The Shop, while, surprisingly, Doug Gottlieb made some sense after he chimed in:
Dahntay Jones explains the purpose of 'The Shop' and why he believes Whitlock felt disappointed. @dahntay1 pic.twitter.com/nltUHpGXa3
— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) August 30, 2018