Charles Barkley jokes about Jussie Smollett, Liam Neeson controversies during TNT's NBA halftime show
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}As America continues to process the Jussie Smollett controversy, outspoken former pro basketball star Charles Barkley raised eyebrows with his perspective Thursday night.
During halftime of TNT’s coverage of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers game, commentators Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson were considering a list of possible NBA scenarios as the league’s playoffs approach.
At one point, they were asked which scenario had no chance of happening.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TOM BRADY'S GOOD LOOKS HAD CHARLES BARKLEY MESMERIZED, 'YOU A PRETTY MAN'
“Two black guys beating a black guy up,” came Barkley’s reply, in an apparent reference to the Smollett case. The remark drew nervous laughter from his co-hosts and off-camera staffers.
“Just thinking out loud,” Barkley added.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Later, Barkley alluded to reports that Smollett had allegedly written a $3,500 check to pay for two men to attack him.
“America, let me just tell you something,” Barkley said. “Do not commit crimes with checks. If you’re gonna break the law, do not write a check. … Get cash, man. I never use the ATM. Now, I heard you can only get 200 dollars … Gonna make a lot of stops at the ATM. … Do not write checks when you commit illegal activity.”
The comments drew more laughs and head-shaking from Barkley’s colleagues.
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Before a commercial break, Barkley offered some advice directly to Smollett.
“Jussie, you wasted all that damn time and money. You know what you shoulda did? Just went up to Liam Neeson’s neighborhood. You coulda solved all your damn problems.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Neeson made headlines of his own recently for saying he developed an urge to kill a black man after learning that a friend had been raped by a black suspect.
The actor’s remarks drew swift backlash.