Rapper Kevin Gates recently made headlines for comments he made about LeBron James’ wife, Savannah James, expressing that he dislikes how she looks at the NBA star. In a now-viral clip from his Instagram, Gates stated he wouldn’t trade places with James because of Savannah’s demeanor towards him, contrasting it with the perceived admiration he sees from white women towards LeBron.
“I don’t like the way Savannah look at LeBron,” Gates said. “I like the way them white women look at LeBron. Like, when as soon as he walked out there, they just be like, ‘Oh oh oh.’ They be dicked out.” He further suggested that Savannah should be more outwardly supportive, saying, “She should dive on the floor behind that n\*\*\*a.”
These remarks quickly garnered backlash online, with many criticizing Gates for his unsolicited opinion on their marriage. LeBron James seemingly responded to the comments with an Instagram post featuring cozy photos of himself and Savannah, captioned: “Kings don’t concern themselves with the opinions of peasants. Where to next Queen?!?! Let’s get it!” He also included a black queen emoji in his message.
Savannah James also appeared to react subtly by sharing a clip of Nicki Minaj saying, “What? Um—chile, anyways, so,” which is often used to dismiss unwanted opinions.
Following the apparent responses from LeBron and Savannah, Kevin Gates posted another video addressing the situation. In this video, he stated, “The truth hurts, but it heals,” and affirmed his affection for LeBron, saying, “Bron, I love you, ’cause you my n\*\*\*a. Long as you being celebrated, that’s all I care about.” He also described himself as a “life coach and a guru.”
The exchange has sparked discussions across social media platforms and news outlets, with many users expressing their opinions on Gates’ original comments and the Jameses’ reactions. Fans and commentators have largely sided with LeBron and Savannah, praising their strong relationship and criticizing Gates’ remarks as disrespectful and unnecessary.
LeBron and Savannah James have been together since high school in Akron, Ohio, and married in 2013. They are known for maintaining a relatively private and supportive relationship throughout LeBron’s highly public career.