Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey was waived Monday after calling so-called Pride Month “unrighteousness.” In a video posted to social media Ivey said “The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?”
“They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim in the streets. Unrighteousness. So, how is it that one can’t speak righteousness? Who are they say that this man is crazy?” Ivey said.
In response, the Chicago Bulls announced that the Bulls have “waived guard Jaden Ivey due to conduct detrimental to the team.”
Ivey pointed out that there is nothing “detrimental” in knowing that “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.”
“They said my conduct is ‘detrimental’ to the team. Why didn’t they just say, ‘we don’t agree with his stance on LGBTQ?’ Why didn’t they say that? How is it detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team? What did I do to the players? I did nothing but practice with them and play with them. Pass the ball to them. Be a good teammate to them,” Ivey said. “So why is it that the NBA and the Chicago Bulls say that I’m detrimental to the team? How? Because I believe in the truth? Because I know Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life?”
And while Christianity may be “detrimental” to the Bulls, things like drunk driving are totally permissible.
Ronnie Brewer was arrested in February of 2014 for allegedly driving drunk. While a free agent at the time, he was then briefly re-signed by the Bulls just a few weeks later. Brewer pleaded no contest and was slapped with fines and probation.
Joakim Noah was arrested in 2008 and charged with a misdemeanor possession of marijuana and having an open alcohol container. He received a $200 fine, six months of probation, and eventually the charges were dropped. His career was not impacted.
JamesOn Curry, while a Bulls rookie, was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly obstructing and resisting an officer and urinating in public. Curry was suspended for a single game. He was waived from the Chicago Bulls shortly after the incident, though the Bulls did not release any statement specifying it was due to his conduct.
Yet for professing his Christian faith, Ivey was axed.
Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2
