LeBron James criticized Cleveland Browns fans for booing quarterback Deshaun Watson after he suffered an achilles injury in Sunday’s game.
In a tweet on Sunday, the Lakers star slammed Browns’ fans for booing “anyone that’s down with an injury.”
Cleveland Fans! Yall know how much we’ve been thru throughout the years both good, bad and indifferent. With that being said booing anyone that’s down with an injury let alone your own player is LAME AF!! To the ones who didn’t ?
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 21, 2024
According to Fox News, Watson took the snap and tried to run with the ball. But with his first step he crumpled to the ground in pain. As Watson lay on the ground, the Browns’ fans booed him and some fans cheered.
An MRI on Monday confirmed that Watson ruptured his Achilles and that he will miss the remainder of the season, according to Fox News.
Watson’s teammates also chastised their fans for their bad manners.
“We don’t boo guys that are injured on the field, especially when the cart comes out. We should be ashamed of ourselves, as Browns and as fans, to boo anyone in their downfall,” Browns’ defensive end Myles Garrett said after the game. “To be season-altering, career-altering injury, the man’s not perfect, he doesn’t need to be. None of us expect to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does on the field or off the field because I can’t throw stones from my glass house, but we need to do better. No one deserves that.
Watson has a love/hate relationship with NFL fans. He was suspended for 11 games in 2022 after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault.
He settled lawsuits with multiple women and tried to put the entire sordid ordeal behind him.
But in September, Watson was sued again for sexual assault and battery by a woman he met in Houston.
Watson is in his third season with the Browns after signing a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in 2022. He will be paid $40 million this season while he’s on the injured list.