Wu says she’d give LeBron James a tour of Boston after his remarks about racist Celtics fans – The Boston Globe

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Monday mentioned she’d prefer to host LeBron James for a tour of town in response to his remarks earlier this month about his experiences with racism displayed by Celtics followers.

“I’d be glad to take LeBron round and present him the Boston that I do know, that I really like, and that we’re constructing right here to actually make it possible for everyone seems to be included in our metropolis,” Wu mentioned in an interview with Radio Boston host Tiziana Dearing.

Throughout an episode of his HBO present, “The Store: Uninterrupted,” James mentioned Boston is the street metropolis that stands out in the case of followers having an influence on the sport.

When he was requested why Boston so shortly got here to his thoughts, James responded, “As a result of they racist as [expletive], that’s why.”

“They may say something,” he added. “And it’s superb. I imply, [expletive], it’s my life. It’s [expletive] I’ve been coping with my entire life. I don’t thoughts it. Like, I hear it. Like, if I hear any person shut by, I’ll examine them actual fast. I’ll transfer on to the sport. They’re going to say regardless of the [expletive] they need to say. They may toss stuff on you. I imply, I obtained a beer thrown on me leaving the sport. Like, it’s Boston.”

After Dearing performed the clip throughout Monday’s interview, Wu acknowledged that town “has had that repute nationally and it’s one thing that now we have to confront and handle.” Wu mentioned residents of town are dedicated to creating that progress.

“We’re additionally a metropolis that could be very devoted to eradicating racism in each house,” Wu mentioned.

Wu has spoken out in opposition to white supremacist teams which have demonstrated within the metropolis in current weeks, together with a neo-Nazi group that held an anti-LGBTQ+ protest exterior a kids’s drag queen story hour in Jamaica Plain on Saturday. Over the Fourth of July weekend, Wu slammed members of the white nationalist group Patriot Entrance who marched by way of downtown.

“Your hate is as cowardly as it’s disgusting, and it goes in opposition to all that Boston stands for,” Wu mentioned in a tweet that day.

Wu has been noticed together with her household within the crowd at a number of video games this yr because the Celtics pushed by way of the playoffs to their first Finals look since 2010.

“I’m proud to be a Celtics fan and I might be up there within the balcony cheering my coronary heart out, and it will get intense up there,” she mentioned.

Dearing requested Wu if she’s ever heard racist feedback or chants whereas attending a recreation.

“I’ve not heard particular racist chants, however we do get a little bit edgy in Boston,” she mentioned. “We do use phrases that I’d not use, that I’d not need my children to make use of in chanting at video games. And that in some methods is a part of our … we’re hardcore followers in Boston.”

Materials from earlier Globe tales was used on this report.

Nick Stoico will be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com. Observe him on Twitter @NickStoico.