Ty Lawson issues bizarre Donald Trump and Japanese invasion apology to Chinese fans
- Former NBA player wonders if social media storm was because of Donald Trump or anniversary of Japan’s invasion of Manchuria
- Fujian Sturgeons star banned for life after posts that said ‘Chinese women got cakes on the low’, which resulted in vile racist abuse
Former NBA star Ty Lawson has issued a wide-ranging apology for social media posts commenting on Chinese women’s bodies and picturing him getting a lap dance. The video takes in US president Donald Trump and the Japanese invasion of China, while apologising for his comment that Chinese women “got cakes on the low”.
Lawson’s posts resulted in a reported life ban from the Chinese Basketball Association, where he played last season for the Fujian Sturgeons, and the team announcing that they would not renew his contract for the coming season.
He also received vile racist abuse in the comments section of his Instagram, where he had posted to his Instagram story.
On Sunday, Lawson made a video responding to the incident and its fallout, with Mandarin subtitles. He apologises to anyone he offended “from the higher ups, the leadership, fans, men, women, kids”.
“So I guess you’re wondering why it took me so long to make this video and actually have a response to the media because I wanted to see why people were mad and dive deep into your culture and see what’s going on.
“And I understand a picture like that is not really acceptable and even though I was not disrespecting her I see where you’re coming from, so I apologise and you won’t see a picture like that from me again.”
Ty Lawson responds to Instagram posts, CBA ban and racist comments
The picture, which was in a nightclub and not a strip club as was first reported, showed Lawson getting a lap dance from someone he said is a friend. He also posted the comment, “Chinese women got cakes on the low … Might have to change up my stance soon lol.”
Lawson had apologised in an earlier video on Instagram before this new apology where he explained his confusion as to why anyone was upset. He thought it might have been because it was the anniversary of the Mukden Incident – when Japan invaded Manchuria on September 18, 1931 – or even US President Donald Trump.
“I thought it may have been the September 18th incident since it happened the same day so it might remind you about things, or maybe it was Donald Trump, he talks about China all the time. We don’t like Trump either.
Ty Lawson ‘banned for life’ from CBA after nightclub posts
“The picture, we were just dancing. She’s a friend. We hang out all the time. The media picked up on that picture and me actually saying ‘cakes’. Cakes means she has a nice body, that is it, nothing more, nothing less. I’m not trying to make fun of anybody or anything like that.
“The media picked up on that but they didn’t pick up on everything else, dancing with the homies or just having fun. They just want to make something negative. For me, I don’t know why. I’m the most chill guy. I don’t have no problem with nobody or anything like that.”
Lawson also dealt with an earlier incident in Starbucks when he was filmed arguing with Chinese customers.
“As for the Starbucks incident, you know, basically I just had my headphones in my ears talking on the phone. Sometimes you don’t know how loud you are, and I heard somebody say something in English and that’s why I took them off and I heard ‘Get out’.
“That’s when I got up and said, ‘You can get out,’ and things like that, but it’s an easy conversation. I would definitely if you tapped me on my shoulder and said, ‘Can you be a little bit quieter?’ All right, cool. That’s easy. It’s nothing. That’s it.
“I read something, it was the People’s Daily, it was like ‘Win, lose, you respect everybody’. I respect everybody. I just came to play basketball and relax and get to learn your culture more. I read a lot of things.
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“I appreciate you all for listening to me. I appreciate China. You’ve given me a lot of things. I like it here. After the play-offs I could have gone home but I’ve been here for three months trying to just go to different places. During the season we really don’t have time to. We can’t really just go to Guangzhou or go to this city because we’re playing so much. I wanted to see what it has going on and I actually like it.
“If I offended anybody from the higher ups, the leadership, fans, men, women, kids, I’m sorry and I apologise. Thank you.”
Lawson played for five NBA teams – the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards – after his college career with the North Carolina Tar Heels. He first moved to the CBA with the Shandong Golden Stars in 2017.
