NBA legend Charles Barkley, who is known for refusing to bow to political correctness, went off on Jussie Smollett for hoaxing a hate crime during a Thursday night segment on TNT.
“America, let me just tell you something. Do not commit crimes with checks. If you’re going to break the law, do not write a check,” Barkley said, mocking Smollett for leaving a paper trail.
Barkley also poked fun at Hollywood actor Liam Neeson who recently admitted an urge to kill a “black bastard” after learning his friend was raped by an African American.
“Jussie, you wasted all that damn time and money. You know what you should have did? Just went up to Liam Neeson’s neighborhood. That would have solved all your damn problems,” chuckled Barkley.
Barkley’s co-host Shaquille O’Neil couldn’t stop laughing during the segment as Barkley relentlessly slammed Smollett’s poorly planned hoax.
Esquire Magazine called the rant “bizarre” and said the Liam Neeson joke was “turrible,” a shot at Barkley’s pronunciation of the word.
“In a word, it’s brutal. In a few more? It’s random, weird, and will make you uncomfortable,” Esquire wrote.
When Esquire posted the article to their Twitter account, the post was ratioed by users who slammed the fashion magazine.
Check out a sample of reactions from Twitter users below:
Esquire comes out with a predictable bad take, which is not bizarre.
— Russ Cavanaugh (@rcavanaugh82) February 22, 2019
What was bizarre about it?
— Free Jussie Smollett (@jtLOL) February 22, 2019
It’s the funniest thing I’ve seen all week. Thank you @SHAQ @TheJetOnTNT @NBAonTNT
— Andrew McCay (@andrewmccay) February 22, 2019
Bizarre? No. Hilarious and spot on. pic.twitter.com/aRZwu7xnLK
— Dale (@freeburlington) February 22, 2019
I think by 'bizarre rant' you meant 'hilarious asides'
— Alex Joffe (@DrAlexJoffe) February 22, 2019
Is bizarre a synonym for hilarious and accurate?
— Pausanias (@OkNameChecksOut) February 22, 2019
bizarre is what Jussie did
— OHMS (@ohms___) February 22, 2019
It was hilarious. Get over yourselves
— Laurel Menicucci (@leahygurl) February 22, 2019
Liberal media pounces on Charles Barkley for sharing his opinion.
— Rob (@IamRob81) February 22, 2019
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