Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Nike and LeBron James are facing backlash over a new shoe intended to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The controversy stems from the upcoming release of the Nike LeBron 23 "Honor the King" colorway. The teal-colored design is one of 23 special LeBron 23 colorways meant to highlight moments from James’ career. Nike said the "Honor the King" shoe draws inspiration from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where the civil rights icon was assassinated in 1968, and also references a 2008 game in which James scored 51 points against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Critics argue the design crosses a line by commercializing tragedy.
“This is definitely not a flex by Nike and LeBron. Profit on tragedy with Lorraine motel colors," sports columnist Clarence Hill Jr. wrote on social media.
“This is on LeBron too. He has his own wing at Nike HQ. Nothing gets approved for his brand without his ok,” Peter Darker commented on X.
Nike Vice President of Communications John Jowers defended the intent behind the release after James debuted the colorway earlier this month.
“Design is so subjective, and some people the design will resonate with, and others maybe less so, and obviously that becomes a little bit more charged when you have bigger principles at play,” Jowers said in a statement. “I think the intent, though, was really to pay homage to Dr. King, his life and his legacy.”
According to StockX, the LeBron 23 “Honor the King” is scheduled to be released in early February. The shoes are expected to retail for $210 in adult sizes.
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