LeBron James’ show The Shop — in association with Uninterrupted — premiered on HBO on Tuesday night. Odell Beckham Jr., Snoop Dogg, Candace Parker, Draymond Green, Jon Stewart, Michael Bennett, Jon Stewart, Maverick Carter, Vince Staples, and Jerrod Carmichael joined LeBron in a Los Angeles barbershop setting.

HBO promised a show with “spirited, free-flowing discussions” on important topics, and we certainly got that in the premiere.

Among the many interesting conversations we got in the premiere was one primarily featuring LeBron and Beckham on the topic of fame as a black athlete.

LeBron James: “When you’re growing up in sports or hip-hop, whatever the case may be, all you hear is like, I want to be the best. Whoever’s the best, they do it their way, whatever the case may be. And then, when you do it your way, and you win, it still ain’t enough.

It still ain’t enough. And, and, and that’s for us as African Americans because I believe if the greatest quarterback in the world, he’s a white quarterback, if it’s Brady, if it’s Rodgers, if it’s Manning.

And we’re doing the same shit, the same exact shit, I’m talking about the phone is on. We’re like, ‘Yo, get that fucking phone out of my face. I’m with my family.’ If we’re out with our family, and we say that shit, and somebody posts it, and if Aaron Rodgers or one of those guys say that shit, and they post it, somebody’s going to be like, ‘Hey you guys should respect Aaron Rodgers.’”

Odell Beckham Jr: “Should respect him, right.”

LeBron James: “They’re going to say to us, ‘Oh, you guys are fucking dickheads.’”

Beckham then told a story about a recent instance in which he was in a rush and didn’t have time to take a picture with a fan, and was trashed on Twitter.

Odell Beckham Jr: “I had it happen the other day. I didn’t want to take a picture. Like, I’m like I’m really in a rush, I’ve got to go. I get on Twitter, it’s like, oh, yeah, I’m a Giant season ticket-holder for thirty years. I’m like, ‘first of all, you’re twenty something.’

And then, it’s like, oh, he’s an asshole, he didn’t want to take a picture.”

The New York Giants’ star receiver continued, saying that he feels like “a zoo animal” and “puppet” with demands from people.

Odell Beckham Jr.: “It’s like…

To me, I be feeling like, I tell people this all the time- I really feel like a zoo animal. Like that’s where life’s gone for me. You know, you used to take your kids to the zoo and we used to be like, you know, I want to see the lions or let’s go see the lions. And you go out there, and the lions are laid out. You know what I mean? And it’s like, why aren’t they doing lion stuff, you know what I mean? Like I’ve got people who call out, Odell! Dance! Like, I’m a show punk, a show monkey or something. Like I’m a puppet, you know what I mean? And it’s like to me, that doesn’t feel good, but it’s like, damn, that’s what life became. But, can you ever really detach from that?”

The Shop is sure to bring much more honest, important commentary, and will “air periodically throughout the year” according to HBO.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

4 thoughts on “OBJ sees double standard in treatment of black athletes, tells LeBron on HBO’s ‘The Shop’ that he feels ‘like a zoo animal’

  1. Those were really dumb comments by OBJ and LeBron. Reminded me of actors who struggle for years to be noticed then when they are they want privacy. Privacy isn’t part of your job. Take the picture with the fan.

  2. Dude, you chose this life. If you won’t want to feel like ” a zoo animal”, then get another job. The poor little rich boy is up in his feels because he’s famous. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

  3. I just don’t think that’s factually accurate. But I know in 2018, facts don’t matter and blacks are oppressed and all that.

  4. Man exhibits attention-seeking behavior. Man complains that people are paying attention to him.

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