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Fox News host Laura Ingraham defended Drew Brees after the New Orleans Saints quarterback spoke out against Black and white NFL players kneeling in solidarity during the national anthem.

In 2018, Ingraham, who hosts “The Ingraham Angle” famously told NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant to “shut up and dribble” after they criticized President Donald Trump.

“It’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball,” Ingraham said in 2018. “Oh and, LeBron and Kevin, you’re great players, but no one voted for you. Millions elected Trump to be their coach. So keep the political commentary to yourself or as someone once said, shut up and dribble.”

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But rather than tell Brees to shut up and throw the football, Ingraham came to his defense this week, saying he had the right to express his opinions.

“Well, he’s allowed to have his view of what kneeling and the flag means to him,” Ingraham said. She added, “By the way, on the streets of New Orleans, they’re shouting ‘(expletive) Drew Brees.’ That’s what this moment has done to the beautiful team spirit of the New Orleans Saints.”

James took to Twitter.com on Thursday to call out Ingraham for her double standard.

“If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here????” he tweeted alongside a retweet by @ComplexSports.

The 41-year-old quarterback apologized for a second time on Thursday for his racially insensitive comments. He also addressed his comments with teammates in a team meeting.
 

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I would like to apologize to my friends, teammates, the City of New Orleans, the black community, NFL community and anyone I hurt with my comments yesterday. In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused. In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country. They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful and have misled people into believing that somehow I am an enemy. This could not be further from the truth, and is not an accurate reflection of my heart or my character. This is where I stand: I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality and support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference. I condemn the years of oppression that have taken place throughout our black communities and still exists today. I acknowledge that we as Americans, including myself, have not done enough to fight for that equality or to truly understand the struggles and plight of the black community. I recognize that I am part of the solution and can be a leader for the black community in this movement. I will never know what it’s like to be a black man or raise black children in America but I will work every day to put myself in those shoes and fight for what is right. I have ALWAYS been an ally, never an enemy. I am sick about the way my comments were perceived yesterday, but I take full responsibility and accountability. I recognize that I should do less talking and more listening…and when the black community is talking about their pain, we all need to listen. For that, I am very sorry and I ask your forgiveness.

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