A government-controlled Chinese newspaper has issued a stern warning to global brands in response to the Houston Rockets GM showing his support for anti-communist Hong Kong protesters: stay out of our politics or risk losing business.
The warning, which was included in a piece by The Global Times, was the latest development in the row surrounding a tweet posted by Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey on October 4.
In it, he shared his support for the protesters in Hong Kong fighting against China’s communist regime. He deleted it later, however, when the consequences of his criticizing it became clear.
Chinese state television is now refusing to show pre-season games and businesses have cut ties with the Rockets in response to Morey’s tweet.
The NBA has come under intense scrutiny for buckling and expressing ‘regret’ over Morey’s post.
This article appeared on The Global Times, a Chinese government newspaper, on Monday
In China, the NBA is a billion dollar franchise with millions of fans. All that could not be in jeopardy thanks to the country’s no-holds-barred reaction to Morey’s tweet.
The Global Times article defended its position and said it was ‘ridiculous’ to suggest Morey was entitled to free speech.
‘The incident shows an expanding worldwide culture gap.
‘Imagine if Morey publicly tweeted support for the Beijing and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, would rioters in Hong Kong smash up Rockets’ logos in the city?
Morey has neither the IQ nor the EQ to talk about political topics
‘Commercial and cultural organizations which engage in transnational operations should manage their attitudes and statements over sensitive issues. Impulsive words can easily trigger a backlash.
‘As the general manager of the Rockets, Morey shoulders the main responsibility for the marketing of his team, but he invited trouble on himself and offended the public on the Chinese mainland. His professional capability is simply too poor.’
It went on: ‘Some Americans try to link Morey’s tweet with so-called “freedom of speech.” That is ridiculous.
‘Morey does have the freedom to praise Hong Kong protesters, just like the Chinese fans also have the freedom to abandon the Rockets.
Houston Rockets’ general manager, Daryl Morey, apologized on Monday for the tweet he swiftly deleted over the weekend that included an image of the activists’ rally cry: ‘Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong’
Police fire tear gas into a crowd of protesters in Hong Kong on October 1. The protesters are fighting against China’s communist regime
The NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday defended Morey and his right to free speech
The Rockets game against the Toronto Raptors in Japan last night. China is not showing pre-season NBA games this week on state TV
‘The problem is that Morey’s freedom is at the expense of Rockets’ huge commercial interests, which the team is unwilling to give up. It’s a paradox with which Americans are grappling.’
The article then claimed that while Chinese consumers are not ‘overly sensitive’ and that ‘entities that value commercial interests must make their members speak cautiously.’
‘Wherever it is, touching a raw political nerve is extremely risky. Morey has neither the IQ nor the EQ to talk about political topics.
‘He will become an example of clumsiness on some MBA courses,’ it concluded.
On Monday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke up for freedom of speech saying it was not up to the NBA to regulate what players, employees and team owners said, nor to adjudicate differences between people around the world.
The NBA had earlier issued a statement saying it regretted Morey’s remarks, which drew harsh criticism from U.S. lawmakers.
But Silver, who is in Japan for an exhibition game, later defended Morey and said the NBA was not apologizing for him ‘expressing his freedom of expression’.
‘It is inevitable that people around the world – including from America and China – will have different viewpoints over different issues,’ Silver said in a statement.
The Rockets are widely followed in China, partly because they drafted Yao Ming in 2002, who became a star for Houston and helped build the NBA’s following in China.
Yao, who is now the Chinese basketball chief, is ‘extremely hot’ over the controversy sparked by Morey’s pro-democracy tweet.
Silver said he hoped to work with Yao to cool the escalating dispute after saying variously that he was ‘extremely upset’, ‘extremely unsettled’ and ‘extremely hot’.
‘I am hoping that together, Yao Ming and I can find an accommodation,’ said Silver, who visits Yao’s hometown of Shanghai on Wednesday for two pre-season exhibition games.
‘But he is extremely hot at the moment and I understand it.’
Although the two league bosses would be expected to meet as the NBA stages its annual China pre-season exhibition games, Silver did not explicitly confirm that a meeting would take place.
Silver said the NBA had ‘communicated directly’ with Yao over the controversy.
Former Rockets player Yao Ming, who is now the Chinese basketball chief, is ‘extremely hot’ over the controversy sparked by Morey’s pro-democracy tweet