Former NBA player Royce White criticized Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry for his endorsement of Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election.
White, also running as a Republican candidate in the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Minnesota, called Curry’s support for Harris “the weakest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Curry, a father of four, who calls himself Christian, cited Harris’ stance on abortion rights as a key reason for his endorsement.
White, however, was quick to challenge this rationale, accusing Curry of engaging in “virtue signaling” and questioning the sincerity of his stance. “Best shooter of all-time… Air-balled on this one,” White tweeted.
In his critique, White took aim at Curry’s focus on abortion rights, calling it a diversionary tactic. “Men saying Women’s reproductive rights as their top policy response, is such a blatant virtue signal, it might be the weakest thing I’ve ever seen,” White tweeted.
He also claimed that the issue of abortion rights was being used as a “straw man” by Democrats to justify their policies and win votes. “The issue is not being taken back from the states, stop the cap,” White added, emphasizing that he believes the current debate around reproductive rights is misleading.
White expanded his criticism by drawing attention to what he views as Curry’s selective activism, particularly regarding international human rights issues. He singled out the plight of Uyghur Muslim women and girls in Chinese prison camps, suggesting Curry had turned a blind eye to their suffering.
“Steph, tell me about the women’s rights for Uyghur Muslims… All those women and girls… thrown in prison camps for their faith and ethnicity. Not a peep from you or the NBA,” White tweeted.
In conclusion, White advised Curry to remain silent if he was not willing to address pressing global concerns. “Just shut up if you won’t keep it real,” White stated.
This exchange is part of a broader conversation about the role athletes should play in political discourse. White, known for his strong opinions on social and political matters, has frequently criticized both sides of the political spectrum and accused public figures of hypocrisy.
His comments about Curry reflect a growing sentiment among certain circles that athletes’ endorsements may be more performative than genuine.
Curry, meanwhile, has become increasingly vocal about his political beliefs, previously endorsing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during the 2020 election.
