Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey sent what may be the most problematic and potentially damaging tweet in corporate America this year — one that has left the NBA and the team with untenable choices
Morey set off an international firestorm over the weekend when he tweeted support for pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong."Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong," said the tweet, which has since been deleted. Chinese authorities, challenged by months of protests in Hong Kong, have made it clear that business as usual with the league will cease until the NBA totally repudiates Morey's statement.The tweet has left the league and the Rockets with untenable choices.
Sports, a division of China's state broadcaster, said it would not broadcast preseason games set to be played in China, including one between the Brooklyn Nets and the LA Lakers later this week in Shanghai."We believe any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability do not belong to the category of free speech,"
Sports said in a statement.Tencent Sports , which is the NBA's exclusive digital partner in China, said it would suspend live streaming for Houston Rockets games, and stop reporting any news about the team. Nearly 500 million people in China watched NBA programming on Tencent platforms during the last season, according to the companies.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Basketball's NBA under fire in China, at home over HK protest tweetNBA comes under fire for its response to a tweet by a Houston Rockets official in support of Hong Kong protests for democracy. More here:
Read more »
China TV drops NBA exhibition games, escalating pressure amid tweet uproarChinese state television said on Tuesday it wouldn't air NBA exhibition gam...
Read more »
Pols blast NBA for ‘kowtowing’ to China
Read more »