LeBron's Saudi Arabia Visit Sparks Outrage

LeBron James traveled to Saudi Arabia for a basketball clinic

[{"selector":"#anim-bf4edc90-7812-4a3b-a782-385ac9e384d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-363ec1c8-5d27-453f-afaf-3475897d8c59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-127.79923%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The visit sparked outrage among some people who believe that Saudi Arabia has a poor human rights record.

[{"selector":"#anim-1ed0766b-3ca7-44fe-8680-75dbe57d1145","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9af01941-c3e8-4df4-a04b-e4e3715e79fb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-119%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Critics accused LeBron of "sportswashing," the practice of using sports to improve a country's reputation.

[{"selector":"#anim-5d75733b-7d5e-40b9-84d4-695b00c5d648","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4b0b7e0-a22b-41b6-be0f-58868cc76355","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

LeBron responded to the criticism by saying that he was simply trying to promote the game of basketball.

[{"selector":"#anim-e5dfb13b-9531-4c4a-b5b6-1ab778fb7ce4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8ae6b2e-1905-409e-b73f-7edd75958476","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

He also said that he was aware of the human rights issues in Saudi Arabia but that he did not believe it was his place to comment on them.

[{"selector":"#anim-e6e7e9d0-3c0e-4b7a-ba47-00e21a27a76a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-449dd5cc-6216-4d8b-82c8-180d1641abf3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Despite the criticism, LeBron's visit was a success.

[{"selector":"#anim-d4590ab6-168f-4df5-ad4f-0319e7c35b1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d385e39-445d-47d2-be2f-ad55a3ab148e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.33333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

The basketball clinic was attended by hundreds of children.

[{"selector":"#anim-3d9beceb-2367-497b-916b-9398d0392c87","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0732cb82-aede-42f8-bb93-75d19922077b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.66666%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

LeBron also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

[{"selector":"#anim-fadc4417-091c-4d22-acb4-2bfe2cd0c1ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72e42471-657b-487f-83ab-f19fd52eadc0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.33333%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]