MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Grizzlies star player Ja Morant remains in the hot seat after an Instagram live video showing him waving a gun while riding in a car with his friends went viral online, and The Ride Of Tears, which is an organization that fights against gun violence in the Mid-South, said he owes children who look up to him an apology.
Ride of Tears held a press conference at the FedEx Forum Thursday, May 18 at 1:30 p.m. Funeral directors, pastors, and members of the clergy were in attendance,
Morant, who quickly became the face of the NBA, is a role model for children all across the U.S., and Ride of Tears said his influence on children makes his recent actions dangerous.
"The video that has went viral is unacceptable, and we want the player to know that an apology to these young people needs to be made because gun violence is not the answer," Ride of Tears wrote in a press release. "With so much crime going on in our city, the last thing these young people need to see is their favorite star holding a gun."
Morant has been heavily criticized for the recent viral video, which is the second time he has been seen on video with a gun. He first received an eight-game suspension in March after a video showing him with a gun at Denver-area strip club went viral.
Although Morant was apologetic after the first incident, taking steps to right his wrongs, many are now saying he didn't learn his lesson.
Gun violence still a serious issue in Memphis
Gun violence and gun safety are critical issues in Memphis, and local politicians and city councilmembers are struggling to find ways to curve the problem.
In less than a week, two children, a 9-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy, were victims of gun violence.
The 9-year-old girl was accidentally shot and killed by her 7-year-old brother while he was playing with a gun on Sunday, May 14. The 5-year-old boy was hospitalized with non-critical injuries after he was also accidentally shot by his brother while they were playing with a gun on Wednesday, May 17.
According to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, 55 children have been treated for gun violence this year alone, making it the highest number of children treated for gun violence this early in a year.
How Morant, the NBA, Grizzlies Franchise and Nike are responding
Morant broke his silence releasing a statement on Tuesday, May 16, saying that he accepts accountability for his actions and the consequences that he expects will follow.
“I know I’ve disappointed a lot of people who have supported me," Morant said. "This is a journey and I recognize there is more work to do. My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I’m committed to continuing to work on myself.”
As for consequences, Morant has been suspended from all Grizzlies team activities, but no information about further punishment has been released.
Although some repercussions are expected, the NBA and the Grizzlies have not said how severely he will be punished for the most recent incident.
Nike has also been silent on the matter, making no comment about whether it plans to maintain its contract with Morant. Nike signed a multi-year contract with Morant in 2019.
When searching Nike's website, Morant's Ja 1 'Day One' sneakers are not listed anymore.
Morant's latest shoe, the Ja 1 'Hunger', are still listed online, and the website states those shoes will drop next Thursday, May 25th at 9 a.m. for $110.
It is unclear why Morant's first shoe cannot be located on Nike's website.