Houston Rockets’ Daryl Morey backtracks after ‘stand with Hong Kong’ backlash, saying he did not intend to offend China
- Daryl Morey says he has now had the opportunity to ‘hear and consider other perspectives’ since his first tweet results in an exodus of Rockets’ sponsors
- Morey tweets an image depicting ‘fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong’ before the Chinese Basketball Association ceases cooperation with the Rockets
Soon after the initial post, which was later deleted, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), sportswear brand Li-Ning, Tencent’s online sports channel and the franchise’s sponsor in China, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, all said they would cease to cooperate with the Rockets. CCTV Sports also said it will halt broadcasting the team’s games.
“I did not intend my tweet to cause any offence to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China,” read a conciliatory tweet by Morey on Monday morning. “I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.
“I have always appreciated the significant support of our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention,” he added. “My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.”
The Rockets have more ties to China than most NBA teams. Yao Ming, arguably the greatest Chinese basketball player of all time who now leads the Chinese Basketball Association, starred for the Rockets for many years.
Hong Kong has been rocked by months of anti-government protests. What started as opposition to a controversial Extradition Bill, that would have seen fugitives extradited to a number of countries including mainland China, has spiralled into a wider pro-democracy movement.
NBA weighs in on Daryl Morey’s Hong Kong statement
This weekend saw unprecedented levels of violence as radical protesters reacted to the government invoking a colonial-era emergency law, and banned the wearing of masks in public.
The episode is the latest incident to highlight the risks for international businesses over Hong Kong. Despite a rebuke within hours from the team’s owner, Tilman Fertitta, who said the Rockets are not a political organisation and Morey did not speak for the Rockets, Morey’s commentary prompted a swift rebuke from Chinese organisations.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg.
