Chamath Palihapitiya, 45, appeared in the podcast “All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg”. As you can see in the title, the Sri Lankan-born businessman is one of the hosts of the broadcast. In a conversation with his co-host, he said at one point, “Nobody cares what’s going on with the Uighurs.” You bring it up because you really care about it, and it’s nice. The rest of us don’t care at all. I’m telling you the hard, dark truth. Of all the things I care about, this one is below the horizon.
Co-owner of the Golden State Warriors caused a storm with his words
He continued: “I care that our economy could turn to dust if China invades Taiwan.” I care about climate change. I care about a decaying and decaying healthcare system.
He added that the US should “take care of its backyard first, before it stretches out an accusing finger against other nations.”
The Uyghurs are one of the persecuted ethnic groups in China. The US administration believes that China is pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in the territories inhabited by this Muslim population. They even speak of “genocide”. The fate of the Uighurs in China is the main reason why President Joe Biden decided to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
Therefore, the ruthless words of one of the co-owners of the NBA club caused wide indignation. Mainly on the side of the American right.
Right-wing politicians are seizing the opportunity to punch the league that has gotten under their skin
Republican politicians have long held grudges against the best basketball league in the world. Its stars in the political dispute in the US sided decisively on the side of the Democrats. in the 2016 elections and Joe Biden in 2020. One of the most popular coaches in league history, Gregg Popovich, Republican President Donald Trump.
So now the words of the co-owner of the Golden State Warriors provided a great opportunity to get back at the league and the Democrats on the occasion. Palihapitiya is an ardent supporter of the American left. The Democratic Party has been generously supported with donations for years.
Since this type of support in the US is completely public, journalists quickly checked that the billionaire donated 250,000. Biden Victory Fund dollars, which supported Biden’s presidential endeavors. Whereas 5.6 thous. hole. directly on his presidential campaign. 66.2 thous. instead he handed over the DNC – the National Democratic Committee. Over 750 thousand Palihapitiya dollars was spent to support the election of the Senator from the Democratic Party – Chuck Schumer from the state of New York.
The Golden State Warriors club and the NBA league, describing Palihapitiya as a “limited investor”, distanced themselves from the billionaire’s views in special statements, implying that the businessman has virtually no influence on the organization’s operation. “Mr. Palihapitiya did not speak on behalf of our club and his views certainly do not match that of our club,” the Warriors bosses wrote in a statement. The main owners of the Warriors are Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, who bought the club for $ 450 million in 2010. Then he helped them in the transaction by giving out his Palihapitiya money. Today, the club is worth $ 5.2 billion according to Sportico’s estimates, and the Sri Lankan businessman has a 2 percent stake in it.
Palihapitiya repented of his lack of empathy
Palihapitiya himself reflected too and released a statement in which he wrote: “Listening to this week’s podcast, I realized that I was lacking in empathy. I admit it. My family fled a country that has its own human rights problems. I am a refugee too, and that is part of my life experience. To be clear, I think human rights do matter, whether in China or the US or anywhere else. “
The Palihapitiya family fled civil war-torn Sri Lanka 40 years ago to Canada. He himself was 5 years old at the time. In the new country, the family was living in poverty, and he himself had to work part-time in order to learn and study. Eventually, however, he graduated from the University of Waterloo. Later he worked in banks and in 1999 he moved to Silicon Valley, California. He has worked in various companies in managerial positions – e.g. in Facebook. In 2011, he founded the Social Capital fund investing in developing companies. Today, Chamath Palihapitiya’s fortune is estimated at $ 1.2 billion. One of his advisers to Social Capital was Joe Biden’s current secretary of state in the administration, Antony Blinken.
“He sold his soul for money and business”
The statements did not save the league from allegations of hypocrisy, especially from the Republicans. On the one hand, the players kneel during the American anthem and write social slogans on their costumes, and on the other hand, they advertise Chinese sportswear producers who use the slave labor of the Uighurs.
– We always knew that the NBA and many of its owners [klubów] Florida’s Senator Rick Scott tweeted. – Now Palihapitiya has made it clear that he does not care that the Chinese communists are practicing genocide against the Uighurs. He doesn’t care that millions of people are sent to forced labor camps.
Republican Senator from Texas Chip Roy added: The NBA doesn’t care either.
Enes Kanter Freedom of the Boston Celtics also joined the voices of outraged politicians, saying that “Palihapitiya has sold his soul for money and business.”
A Turkish basketball player who has long called President Xi Jinping a “dictator”. Due to Kanter’s political activity, Celtics matches cannot be watched in China – neither on TV nor on the Internet.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
