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"Stop Turning Tragedy Into Product": Mariah Rose Blasts LeBron James and $96.83 Billion Brand for Controversial MLK Shoe
Nike and LeBron James face backlash for a shoe design inspired by the Lorraine Motel, with critics calling it tone-deaf and inappropriate for commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- On Jan. 20, 2026, Nike and LeBron James faced backlash for the LeBron 23 Honor the King colorway inspired by the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.
- The LeBron 23 `Honor the King` colorway is one of 23 Nike releases tied to moments in James' 23-year career, featuring the word "Equality" on the heel and inspired by the Lorraine Motel's teal signage and James' 51-point game in Memphis .
- Online, comment sections and critics called the design 'tasteless' and 'shameful,' with Devlin Carter saying, `I usually expect missteps like this from European brands, but I'm actually shocked that nobody at Nike couldn't see how bad of an idea this was.`
- With shoes already in production, StockX lists the Nike LeBron 23 `Honor the King` for release on February 5, and adult sizes will retail for $210 at select retailers.
- Some commentators questioned internal Nike approvals, with Clinton Yates tweeting `Nothing gets approved for his brand without his ok`, fueling a national conversation about commercializing civil-rights history.
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LeBron James, Nike under scrutiny for sneaker inspired by Memphis motel where MLK was assassinated - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Nike are facing criticism over their latest collaboration. The LeBron 23 “Honor the King” takes inspiration from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Many online said it’s “shameful” that a shoe based on the site of the civil rights leader’s death was approved. The Lorraine Motel was turned into the National Civil Rights Museum in 1991.
·Miami, United States
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What Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy means to NBA players today
The National Basketball Association honors Martin Luther King Jr. every season with its annual MLK Day Games. And the Defender spoke with NBA players from the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder to discuss what Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy meant to them.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left3Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 33%
R 17%
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