Twitter Parody Account Uses Elon Musk’s New Checkmark Subscription To Impersonate Lebron James & Ask For A Trade

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

A parody account impersonating Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James has gone viral for its recent tweet of requesting a trade back to his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The tweet read, “Thank you #LakersNation for all the support through the years. ???? Onto bigger and better things! ???? #ThekidfromAKRON #ImComingHome.”

Another account reportedly was found impersonating ESPN Insider Adam Schefter. The parody account tweeted that the Las Vegas Raiders had parted ways with head coach Josh McDaniels. Both accounts have since been permanently suspended. After Tesla founder Elon Musk successfully bought Twitter, an update to the platform was released that made it possible for any Twitter users to earn a verification badge (blue checkmark) by purchasing a Twitter Blue subscription service for $8 per month.

Since then, users reportedly have been seen impersonating official reporters and prominent figures and using their accounts to spread misinformation.

The real LeBron James is also making headlines. The superstar used his actual Twitter account to speak up regarding the Brooklyn Nets-Kyrie Irving suspension. James took to his official social media account to criticize the Brooklyn Nets and its method of disciplining Irving.

“I told you guys that I don’t believe in sharing hurtful information. And I’ll continue to be that way but Kyrie apologized and he should be able to play. That’s what I think. It’s that simple. Help him learn- but he should be playing. What he’s asked to do to get back on the floor I think is excessive IMO. He’s not the person that’s being portrayed of him. Anyways back to my rehab session.”

James joins Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown in defending Kyrie from allegations of the player being antisemitic although James did recently condemn Irving’s promotion of an antisemitic film, saying he felt Irving hurt a lot of people and he doesn’t personally believe in promoting hateful content.

Brown, the vice president of the NBA Players Association, said he believes that the situation was just Irving making a mistake. Irving was given a four-game suspension without pay by the Nets for allegedly retweeting a film that contained antisemitic material.

Brown spoke about the sentiment inside the NBA Players association, at large, saying:

“I don’t think people in our governing bodies think he’s antisemitic. He made a mistake. We understand from an outside perspective how important sensitivity is to not condone hate speech and not condone anything of that nature,” Brown said. “It’s sensitivity to the dialect around that. We don’t want to stand up for somebody in order to not condemn hate speech, but I don’t believe Kyrie Irving is antisemitic. And hopefully the NBA feels the same way.”

Yardbarker has more HERE.

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