Rapper Master P criticized LaVar Ball for being ungrateful to President Donald Trump for securing his son’s release from China.
Ball’s son, LiAngelo, a UCLA freshman, was arrested alongside two other UCLA basketball players for attempting to steal sunglasses at a Louis Vuitton store in Hangzhou, China.
But while the three players themselves thanked President Trump for securing their release, LaVar Ball made multiple media appearances saying he refused to do so. Instead, he suggested that Trump was not responsible for his son’s safe return.
“I just think it’s a blessing to have your kids back at home, man,” Master P told TMZ Sports, talking about LaVar’s response.
“You gotta just be humble,” he said.
Trump personally called on Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the release of the three young men while on his Asia tour. According to Trump, they were facing a 5- to 10-year prison sentence in China for their crime.
Master P said LaVar should have been grateful to the president for his help, even if he doesn’t agree with the president on all issues.
“Just be thankful that your kid is safe and is not in prison. And do the right thing, man,” Master P said.
“Right is right, wrong is wrong.”
“I think that if somebody help you, you be appreciative, that’s it.”
Master P, whose real name is Percy Robert Miller, has sold over 75 million records. Besides creating a successful record label, No Limit Records, he is known for his philanthropic work.
Master P said he has a son himself who plays basketball in high school.
He said it would be a blessing if his son can go to college.
“I just put my trust in God, man, I’m going to stay humble.”
Ball, who has three sons who play basketball, has said they were “born to go pro.”
However, that plan has hit a road bump as LiAngelo was suspended indefinitely by UCLA following the incident in China.
“My family raised me better than that, and I’m going to make myself a better person from here on out,” LiAngelo said in a press conference after arriving back in the United States on Nov. 14.
Trump has personally responded to Ball, calling him ungrateful for his behavior. He also suggested it might have been better if he had left his son in prison, and waited until his next trip to China to get him freed.
“Shoplifting is a very big deal in China, as it should be (5-10 years in jail), but not to father LaVar. Should have gotten his son out during my next trip to China instead. China told them why they were released. Very ungrateful!” Trump wrote in a tweet on Nov. 19.
Co-host of ABCs “The View,” Whoopi Goldberg also scolded the three young men for their actions.
“You embarrassed your families, you embarrassed the country, and you embarrassed the president,” Goldberg said on Nov. 16.
She described the action by the freshmen as “the stupidest thing a young person has done.”
“The fact that he [President Trump] had to call and get your [expletive] out of there, is not anything to be proud of or think is cool.”
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