Charles Barkley once stared down Godzilla; in other words, he’s not someone who stands back from a good quarrell. And thus, he’s become the latest high-profile personality to weigh in on the NBA’s current standoff with the Chinese government, with barbed fence comments aimed at Vice President Mike Pence.
“Vice President Pence needs to shut the hell up,” Barkley said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the Vice President had sharply criticized the NBA for its its handling of the fallout of Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeting a message in support of protestors in Hong Kong. The BBC reports that Pence said, “In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime.”
Barkley’s comments, The Hill reports, also included a more measured accusation of hypocrisy for politicians who criticize the Chinese government but remain open to doing business in China.
Since the conflict between the NBA and the Chinese government began earlier in the month, the ongoing debate has seen some surprising people both defending and condemning each side. And Pence and Donald Trump are likely eager for the opportunity to criticize representatives of a league where several big names have been critical of the current administration, adding to the chaos surrounding this issue.
What began as a very isolated issue, with Morey tweeting something he later deleted, has grown into a war of words that has included legends of the sport, elected officials, and team staff. And given its underlying issues, it’s also something that seems unlikely to quiet down any time soon.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
