Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters reportedly said religious reasons kept him from the national anthem. Now, he is saying those quotes were fabricated.
A Cleveland.com report quoted Dion Waiters as saying he skipped out on the national anthem this week because of religious reasons, but Waiters is now saying that the quote was completely made up.
More from Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA insider: Cavaliers should consider trading Donovan Mitchell
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- NBA Rumors: 3 teams that should trade for Joel Embiid
- NBA rumors: How Donovan Mitchell could wind up on the trading block
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
Waiters was quoted as saying, “It’s because of my religion,. That’s why I stayed in the locker room.”
After the report made its way out into the public, the backtracking immediately began.
Dion Waiters took to his social media account to blast the report and anyone who believed it.
In a brief Twitter rant, Waiters addressed the situation and expressed that he “loves everything about America.”
From Uproxx.com:
While it makes sense for Dion Waiters to defend himself, it is hard to believe a reporter would fabricate a quote of that nature.
Not only could directly making up a quote about an athlete lead to a reporter losing their job, but fabricating a quote about religion would spark even more outrage and scrutiny.
The decision to skip the national anthem came on the first day that Waiters was not in the Cleveland Cavaliers starting lineup, so maybe he is just in a glass case of emotion and needs to take a few breaths before trying to explain himself.
More from FanSided
- NFL rumors: Aaron Rodgers sets Jets up for Super Bowl run with new contract
- MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians
- Colorado gives Pac-12 a possible death knell with move to Big 12
- NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook suitor maintaining very ‘real’ interest
- Braves get dose of bad news on Max Fried as ace nears return