Former adult film star Mia Khalifa had a penchant for attracting controversy during her career in the pornographic industry. Her new career as a sports commentator has proven to be no different.
The adult film performer-turned-sports pundit recently drew the ire of LeBron James fans after she, without proof, alleged that James was responsible for the firing of Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue.
Lue took an indefinite leave of absence starting on March 19 following a bout with an illness. But Khalifa, who currently hosts her own sports-themed commentary show on Twitch.tv, accused the Cavaliers of having ulterior motives for Lue’s sudden departure.
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue took a leave of absence to recover from a recent illness
Khalifa posted a screenshot of an article about Lue’s decision on Twitter with the caption: ‘That’s a weird way to spell “Lebron James fired him”.’
The unfounded accusation quickly resulted in Cavaliers fans firing back and defending both James and Lue. At least one fan on Twitter demanded that she ‘show some respect’, while many others backed up the team’s assertion that Lue was indeed ill.
After Lue left his team’s game against the Chicago Bulls early last week, he issued a statement confirming his illness that read: ‘After many conversations with our doctors and Koby Altman and much thought given to what is best for the team and my health, I need to step back from coaching for the time being and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation from which to coach for the rest of the season.
‘I have had chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a loss of sleep, throughout the year. Despite a battery of tests, there have been no conclusions as to what the exact issue is.
‘While I have tried to work through it, the last thing I want is for it to affect the team.
‘I am going to use this time to focus on a prescribed routine and medication, which has previously been difficult to start in the midst of a season.
‘My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the Championship we are all working towards.
‘I greatly appreciate Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman, our medical team and the organisation’s support throughout.’
As of yet, it’s unknown as to when or if Lue will return to his head coaching position with the team.
Who is Mia Khalifa?
Mia Khalifa is a former adult film actress and social media personality.
She was born on February 10, 1993 in Beirut, Lebanon.
After immigrating to the United States with her family in 2000, Khalifa graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso and began working in the adult film industry in October 2014 at the suggestion of a customer at the retail job she was working in at the time.
She quickly became the top ranked performer on the adult film sharing site Pornhub in December 2014 but soon generated controversy after performing in a traditional Islamic hijab, a move which even prompted death threats from ISIS. She later quit the pornographic industry in early 2015 due to the threats and a wish to have a ‘more normal job.’
Since leaving the adult film industry, Khalifa has continued to work as a social media personality and webcam model. She was hired by Complex News and Yahoo to cohost its new sports show Out of Bounds in October 2017 but left the program in February 2018 to instead focus on her full-time show on Twitch.tv.
What is Mia Khalifa’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mia Khalifa’s net worth is about $4 million (£2.8 million).
Who is LeBron James?
LeBron James is a professional basketball player in the NBA who currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Due to his many accomplishments and accolades, James is often seen as one of the best professional basketball players in history.
James was born in Akron, Ohio on December 30, 1984.
He stood out as an elite high school basketball player in his hometown of Akron and was heavily recruited by many NBA teams as the league’s next star player. Ultimately, he opted to enter the 2003 NBA Draft and was selected as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James quickly lived up to his sky high expectations, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in his first season playing. A few years later, he led the Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007 but were easily defeated by the San Antonio Spurs.
In 2010, James joined the Miami Heat, prompting an outcry from jilted Cleveland fans. In Miami, however, James enjoyed even more success than he did with the Cavaliers, reaching the NBA Finals during all four years of his tenure with the team and winning consecutive NBA Championships in 2012 and 2013.
After the 2014 season, James decided to opt out of his contract and chose to return to the Cavaliers. Back in Cleveland, he led the team to three NBA Finals appearances from 2015 through 2017 and finally brought an NBA Championship to Cleveland in 2016, helping the city end its 52-year title drought in professional North American sports.
Over the course of his career, James has won a number of coveted accolades, including three NBA Finals titles, four MVP Awards and 14 NBA All-Star appearances.
What is LeBron James’s net worth?
Per Celebrity Net Worth, LeBron James’s net worth is approximately $400 million (£286m).
James’s annual income is about $80 million (£57.2m).