Last night, Bronny James, the 18-year-old son of NBA icon LeBron James, experienced a cardiac arrest while practicing with his college team, the University of Southern California. However, what garnered widespread attention was Elon Musk's suggestion that the medical emergency might have been connected to the Covid-19 vaccine.
"We cannot ascribe everything to the vaccine," Musk's tweet read, "but, by the same token, we cannot ascribe nothing. Myocarditis is a known side-effect. The only question is whether it is rare or common."
Certainly, making baseless claims as such inevitably invites criticism. In response to Musk's remarks, California Representative Ted Lieu addressed him with the following message: "You have access to extensive resources. I urge you to utilize them. It's not known whether Mr. James has myocarditis." (Musk published that post only 30 minutes after the first reports on Bronny’s condition were even released.)
Christine Pelosi, a political strategist and Nancy Pelosi's daughter, also didn't shy away from slamming Musk for propagating conspiracy theories: “Praying for #bronnyjames’ full recovery. Since Mr X has decided - once again - to weaponize conspiracy theories that exacerbate a public family’s private pain - here are the FACTS: Myocarditis is a more common side effect of COVID than of the vaccine,” her message reads.
“He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU. We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information,” James' family's spokesperson told TMZ. As of now, there has been no comment from LeBron James himself regarding the situation.
Elon Musk faced significant backlash last night after he made a connection between LeBron James' son, Bronny's cardiac arrest episode, and an anti-vax conspiracy theory
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This is what Mr. Musk's tweet, which got the fact-check label removed by his team at X, has said:
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Bronny's condition has improved, and he is currently in stable condition, no longer requiring ICU care
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Bronny was born on October 6, 2004, to reigning "NBA Rookie of the Year," LeBron James, when he was only 19
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Bronny James, 18, has made a commitment to join the University of South Carolina's team for the upcoming season, with the expectation that he will probably be drafted into the NBA soon
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Prior to the cardiac arrest, Bronny hasn't been diagnosed with any life-threatening health conditions
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LeBron James has said one of his final goals before retirement is to play in the NBA with his son
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"I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny," James once told ESPN
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The mentioned intention to push the anti-vaccine retort would come as no surprise, given Elon Musk's history of spreading right-wing conspiracy theories, his previous opposition to vaccination, and his recent interview with anti-vax presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, meanwhile, have become a prominent part of far-right messaging, finding a platform on Musk's recently rebranded platform. Following Musk's acquisition of Twitter in November 2022 for an eye-watering sum, there were reports of a surge in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories from newly purchased $8 blue check accounts - a business plan that LeBron James wasn't particularly fond of. As the Independent pointed out, numerous studies have highlighted a rise in misinformation on Twitter since Musk's $44 billion acquisition.
Also, for a leading person who once stated that, "It’s more about treating everyone equally. There shouldn’t be a different standard for celebrities," it's quite surprising to hear an exception has been made for Musk. As Forbes pointed out, Musk's post has since shed off the fact-check label offering “added context” via a brief corrective note which stated that the risk of myocarditis is significantly higher after a Covid infection than after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. It remains unclear, however, whether this decision was made by Musk's team, or if it reflects the privileges he may enjoy as CEO of the company.
It's safe to safe that most people were disgusted by Elon Musk's response to the young man's condition
