BBC Mistakes LeBron James For Kobe Bryant, Issues Apology Following Criticism
Left image via mikecphoto / Shutterstock.com, right image via plavevski / Shutterstock.com
BBC has been criticized by viewers after using a footage of LeBron James while reporting on the death of another basketball star, Kobe Bryant.
Bryant and his daughter Gianna, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California yesterday morning. Instead of paying tribute to the former NBA superstar, BBC News at Ten mistakenly showed a video of LA Lakers player LeBron James on court, drawing ire of viewers.
One Twitter user said, “BBC is telling us none of their workers knows the difference between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant?” A BBC spokesman has apologized for the wrong use of photo while covering the death of Kobe Bryant. “We apologize for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the programme,” the spokesperson said.
Deeply unfortunate mix up from BBC. They got two big, Black men confused and featured Lebron James instead of late Kobe Bryant in this news segment. This only adds to our collective grief at this time. Has a correction and apology been issued yet? Shame. pic.twitter.com/jCUejPKWc4
— Nadine White (@Nadine_Writes) January 26, 2020
In tonight’s coverage of the death of Kobe Bryant on #BBCNewsTen we mistakenly used pictures of LeBron James in one section of the report. We apologise for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the programme.
— Paul Royall (@paulroyall) January 26, 2020
Who cut this????? BBC news using footage of Lebron James instead of Kobe Bryant in their obit!!!!!
— Geoff Jein (@geoffjein) January 26, 2020
IT EVEN SAYS JAMES ON HIS SHIRT pic.twitter.com/QaWpivLDji
BBC is telling us none of their workers knows the difference between Lebron James and Kobe Bryant? 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/botPSAaFig
— efo Yhakubu (@iamfelixg) January 26, 2020
.@bbc do better.
— Tobi Oredein (@IamTobiOredein) January 26, 2020
1. You are showing LeBron instead of Kobe.
2. Career got cut short? He played for 20 years and not many basketball players play for 20 years. Only five people have played more seasons than Kobe Bryant in the history of the NBA.
3. You lot are so embarrassing https://t.co/o1bzooZZMg
BBC shows highlights of LeBron instead of Kobe in report on the death of Kobe Bryant. They’re going to find any way to disrespect this Kobe, watch what I tell you. This falls in line with the stereotype that all black people look alike pic.twitter.com/glw6h3P13R
— BrothaHassan (@BrothaHassan) January 27, 2020
[via BBC, opening image via mikecphoto / Shutterstock.com, plavevski / Shutterstock.com]
