The United States’ National Basketball Association has become tangled in the escalating dispute between mainland China and Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters.
Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sparked the controversy last week when he tweeted his support for the protesters.
“Fight for freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” he tweeted.
In response, China’s state broadcaster said it would dump coverage of Houston Rockets games.
The Chinese Basketball Association, chaired by former Houston Rockets player Yao Ming, also declared plans to sever ties with the team.
With other corporate sponsors piling on the pressure in the one of the league’s major overseas markets, the NBA responded by issuing an unequivocal apology to Chinese fans.
“We recognize that the views expressed by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable,” the statement read.
This further inflamed the situation as US politicians slammed the NBA for caving in to China.
As a lifelong @HoustonRockets fan, I was proud to see @dmorey call out the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive treatment of protestors in Hong Kong. Now, in pursuit of big $$, the @nba is shamefully retreating. https://t.co/7waMde5KrM — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) October 7, 2019
Republican Senator Ted Cruz, from Texas, said the NBA had “shamefully” retreated and he was proud to see Mr Morey take a stand.
Democratic congressman and presidential hopeful Beto O’ Rourke said the NBA was putting profits over people.
“The only thing the NBA should be apologizing for is their blatant prioritization of profits over human rights,” he tweeted.
“What an embarrassment.”
Houston Rockets star James Harden apologised to the NBA’s Chinese fans after a team practice in Japan.
“We love China. We love playing there. I know for both of us individually we go there once or twice a year," he said.
“They show us the most support and love. So we appreciate them as a fan base and we love everything they’re about and we appreciate the support that they give us individually and as an organization.”
Mr Morey also apologised, saying he did not mean to offend any Houston Rockets fans.
"I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives," he said.
1/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives. — Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019
The controversy took another strange twist when the creators of satirical cartoon South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, weighed in with a joint statement.
“Like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts," the statement read.
"We too love money more than freedom and democracy.”
Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters attended rallies in Hong Kong on Sunday, which .
