Critics slam Elon Musk for suggesting Covid vaccine may be responsible for Bronny James’ cardiac arrest and brand him a ‘bottomless pit of attention addiction’

• Twitter CEO Elon Musk claimed Bronny James’ cardiac arrest may be due to jab
• Bronny James collapsed during basketball workout and was rushed to hospital

Critics have slammed Elon Musk for wading in on Bronny James’ health crisis, accusing him of being ‘addicted’ to attention after he suggested the basketballer’s cardiac arrest was linked to the Covid vaccine.

Kara Swisher, a tech journalist and frequent critic of Musk, said there is ‘never somebody else’s tragedy that this bottomless put of attention does not find a heinous way to insert himself, frequently wrong but never in doubt’ in a scathing tweet aimed at the Twitter CEO.

While sports stars and fans said they were praying for 18-year-old Bronny’s recovery following the cardiac arrest, Musk was quick to claim that the Covid vaccine could be to blame in a move that sparked fierce backlash.

Bronny, the son of NBA star LeBron James, was rushed to hospital and admitted to ICU after collapsing at USC’s Galen Center on Monday. He is now in a stable condition and has been released from intensive care.

Soon after the news emerged, Musk tweeted: ‘We cannot ascribe everything to the vaccine, but, by the same token, we cannot ascribe nothing. Myocarditis [the inflammation of the heart] is a known side-effect. The only question is whether it is rare or common.’

Swisher slammed Musk in a scathing tweet in which she wrote: ‘There’s never someone else’s tragedy — a murder in SF, a group of kids trapped, an older man getting hit with a hammer by a lunatic — that this bottomless pit of attention addiction does not find a heinous way to insert himself in, frequently wrong but never in doubt.’

Critics have slammed Elon Musk (pictured in Paris last month) for wading in on Bronny James’ health crisis, accusing him of being ‘addicted’ to attention after he suggested the basketballer’s cardiac arrest was linked to the Covid vaccine

Bronny James (pictured in March in Houston, Texas), the son of NBA star LeBron James, was rushed to hospital and admitted to ICU after collapsing at USC’s Galen Center on Monday . He is now in a stable condition and has been released from intensive care

Kara Swisher, a tech journalist and frequent critic of Musk, said there is ‘never somebody else’s tragedy that this bottomless put of attention does not find a heinous way to insert himself, frequently wrong but never in doubt’ in a scathing tweet aimed at the Twitter CEO

Musk’s tweet was followed by a slew of online outrage with many criticizing the platform’s CEO for spreading conspiracy theories about the vaccines

In November, Musk had sparked backlash for spreading false conspiracy theories about an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of the then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. 

The Twitter CEO had tweeted a link to an article – and later deleted it – falsely suggesting that the assailant David DePape had a personal relationship with Pelosi.

And now, eight months on, Musk has been accused of spreading yet more claims – this time about Bronny’s cardiac arrest and a supposed link with the Covid vaccine –  without providing any evidence.

One Twitter user commented: ‘Elon Musk appears to be claiming without a shred of evidence that Bronny James’s cardiac arrest is linked to the Covid vaccine.’ 

Another said: ‘Elon Musk is replying to tweets about Bronny with conspiracies about the vaccine. The James family is already going through a tremendously difficult moment and now the owner of this website is helping direct the crazies at them.’ 

Another slammed Musk on Twitter and wrote: ‘You have no proof or 1st hand knowledge given to you directly from the family so why are you out here speculating about something so deeply personal and painful about Bronny’s condition?’ 

Bronny, who recently committed to the Trojans, was rushed to hospital in an ambulance after a 911 call was made at 9.26am Monday.

The incident is believed to have been a Code 3, which signifies the seriousness of the call as it requires ambulance lights and sirens.

His father LeBron is ‘making sure he gets the best care possible’ and has entered ‘full Dad mode and is protecting his son in any way he can,’ a source told DailyMail.com.

Cardiologists have warned that Bronny’s career – which was only just beginning following his high school graduation – could already be over.

Dr Christopher Tanayan told DailyMail.com: ‘If they find something that puts him at a high risk for sudden death then that… may make or break his career.’

The NY-based sports cardiologist said that a large proportion of cardiac arrest cases in athletes are caused by a condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which predisposes the heart to abnormal rhythms.

Bronny is now in a stable condition and has been released from the ICU. Pictured: LeBron James, Bryce James, Zhuri James, Savannah James and Bronny James at The 2023 ESPYS

LeBron James’s son, Bronny, has suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball workout. Pictured: The 18-year-old posed with his rumored girlfriend Peyton Gelfuso, 19, in May

He said if this is found to be the cause then Bronny’s career could be on the line because this puts him at a ‘high risk of sudden death.’  

‘Whether or not Bronny’s career can continue will depend on his family, the league and ultimately his own appetite for risk,’ Dr Tanayan added. 

A source close to the Jameses told DailyMail.com: ‘LeBron is keeping things as close to himself and his family as possible but is also keeping others like his agents and main people in the Lakers organization privy to what is going on.

‘He is scared and devastated with what has transpired with his son. The family is making sure he gets the best care possible as his well-being is the most important thing right now.

‘LeBron has no other feelings besides making sure his son will be OK. LeBron’s only focus is devoted to Bronny’s recovery. It is going to be the only thing on his mind, he is in full dad mode and protecting his son in any way he can do that.’ 

A spokesman for the James family said: ‘Yesterday [Monday] while practicing Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest. Medical staff was able to treat Bronny and take him to the hospital. He is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU. 

‘We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information. LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes.’ 

This incident is the second time that USC medical staff has responded to a basketball player with cardiac arrest during practice, the LA Times reported.

Last summer, Vince Iwuchukwu collapsed at a practice and was revived by USC athletic trainers. He returned to playing basketball six months later. 

Bronny recently took another step on the path to following his father’s footsteps by choosing to wear his iconic No 6 at USC for his freshman year. 

USC revealed the exciting news on their Twitter page, writing alongside a graphic: ‘FIRST LOOK: Bronny James will wear No. 6 for the Trojans.’

Bronny James will wear No 6 for USC this year – a tip of the hat to legendary NBA father 

LeBron James – the NBA’s all-time leading points scorer – is famed for wearing No 6 at Lakers 

His father LeBron, of course, is synonymous with the No 6 from his glittering career with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat – although he has also worn No 23 before.

This year, the 38-year-old James became the leading points scorer in the all-time history of the NBA, overtaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s tally of 38,387 career points.

LeBron is believed to want to keep playing in the NBA until Bronny can join him in the league.

‘I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,’ James told ESPN in January.

‘Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him,’ he said. ‘. . . But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.’

LeBron is under contract for two more years in LA while his son could enter the NBA in the 2024 Draft after playing a season at USC.

He was last seen hugging Lionel Messi at his match in Fort Lauderdale last week. 

A member of the Sierra Canyon School’s Class of 2023, Bronny graduated form the California high school in May, where proud parents LeBron and Savannah could be seen beaming.

The graduation came just days after Bronny and his rumored girlfriend Peyton Gelfuso, 19, suffered vile racist abuse from trolls on social media.

His mom, Savannah, had shared photos of the young couple attending Bronny’s senior prom.

The 6-foot-3 guard donned a custom black Chrome Hearts suit and Dior shoes for the occasion, while Peyton dazzled in a strapless, black satin dress.

But trolls launched attacks at Bronny as some people on the internet were not happy with his decision to take someone who is ‘light skinned’ to prom, and social media was soon flooded with a slew of nasty comments about the pairing.

Peyton reportedly attended Sierra Canyon, graduating the year before Bronny, and appears to split her time between Los Angeles and Dallas as she attends Southern Methodist University (SMU), where she is a member of the Tri Delta sorority, according to her Instagram bio.

Bronny had already committed to USC in May after having several programs interested in him, including scholarship offers from Ohio State and Oregon.

LeBron ‘Bronny’ James Jr. #0 of Sierra Canyon High School with his father LeBron James

McDonalds High School All American Bronny James (6) talks with his father LeBron James

Bronny, who graduated this year, could have a one-and-done collegiate career and, if he declares for the 2024 NBA Draft, is expected to be a mid-first-round pick

The younger James announced his decision on Instagram, ending more than a year of speculation about his future. ‘Fight On,’ he wrote, referencing a Trojans slogan and adding the hashtag, ‘#committed.’

Unsurprisingly, Bronny chose a Nike school, aligning him with the apparel giant that has helped turn his father into a billionaire. And as an added benefit, he is remaining in the LA area, playing less than an hour from his high school, Sierra Canyon.

Bronny’s commitment was a major coup for a basketball program that has traditionally been overshadowed by Trojans football.

Coach Andy Enfield’s team has reached the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive seasons but has been bounced in the first round in each of the last two years.

Enfield previously got commitments from Isaiah Collier, who is considered by many to be the top recruit in the class of 2023. The 6-foot-3 guard could team in the Trojan backcourt with Bronny next season. Furthermore, four-star center Arrinten Page has also committed to USC.

The team also returns Reese Dixon-Waters, a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 9.8 points a game last season.

However, following vile racist abuse he and his girlfriend suffered, USC reportedly began preparations for the new level of scrutiny – and the potential A-List stars – Bronny’s arrival would signal.

USC was considering creating a ‘separate entrance for celebrities and other VIPs,’ who want to watch LeBron’s son and potential future NBA star, according to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.

The college was also planning to boost its security measures to contend with Bronny’s presence and the famous figures, including his NBA icon dad, and the increased attendance it will bring.

Bronny is not pegged to be the ‘Next LeBron,’ nor is he some watered-down version of the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.

For starters, his father skipped the NCAA level in 2003 because the NBA had yet to implement its controversial one-and-done rule, requiring prospects to be one year removed from their high school class’s graduation before being draft eligible.

Instead, Bronny is very much his own player, and one that some insiders see as a potential top-10 pick in 2024.

Bryce James, LeBron James, Bronny James, Carmelo Anthony and Kiyan Anthony pose at the Sierra Canyon vs Christ The King boys basketball game at Sierra Canyon High School

(L-R) LeBron James, winner of Best Record-Breaking Performance, Bronny James, Bryce James, Savannah James and Zhuri James speak onstage during The 2023 ESPY Awards

He’s always been a highly visible part of LeBron’s orbit alongside mother Savannah – LeBron’s high school sweetheart from Akron – as well as younger sister Zhuri and brother Bryce, another highly recruited player.

But it wasn’t until 2019, when Bronny enrolled at Sierra Canyon alongside the son of his father’s former teammate, Dwyane Wade, that he began drawing attention for his own play.

Since then, Bronny has filled out to 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, a far cry from his 6-foot-9 father, but plenty tall enough to get scholarship offers.

At the ESPYs as LeBron claimed the latest of many personal prizes that he’s won throughout his 20-year career, he said: ‘I don’t care how many more points I score, what I can and cannot do on the floor.

‘The real question for me is can I play without cheating this game? The day I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done.

‘Lucky for you guys, that is not today.’

The speech was the latest in a series of hints from the NBA legend that he is not ready to step away from the NBA just yet with the goal of potentially playing with his son on the horizon.

‘I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,’ James told ESPN in January.

‘Either in the same uniform or a matchup against him,’ he said. ‘. . . But I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.’

Bronny could have a one-and-done collegiate career and, if he declares for the 2024 NBA Draft, is expected to be a mid-first-round pick.

What IS the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest? 

Cardiac arrest vs heart attack

‘Cardiac’ comes from the Greek word kardiakos, meaning ‘pertaining to the heart’.

‘Cardiac arrest’ was first used as a medical term in the 1950s.

It is sometimes incorrectly used interchangeably with the phrase ‘heart attack’.

Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping (it may quiver or flutter instead) due to an electrical malfunction.

It can be triggered by a heart condition, choking, electric shocks, or losing a lot of blood.

If the heart cannot pump blood in a normal way, then the body is starved of oxygen and this can result in a loss of consciousness and even death if not treated quickly.

A heart attack, meanwhile, is where cardiac tissue dies due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood.

This can be due to narrowed arteries and a clot.

The signs of a heart attack can be immediate, but more commonly it is a slow onset of symptoms persisting from hours to days: chest pain, light-headedness and shortness of breath are all warning signs. This can lead to cardiac arrest, but not always.

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