Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant found himself in hot water on Martin Luther King Jr. Day after posting a photoshopped image of the civil rights icon wearing dental grills on Instagram. The post quickly drew criticism from fans on social media, who deemed it disrespectful and inappropriate.
Ja Morant on his instagram story😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Ar8QWhZsHt
— BIGMEM12 (@BIGMEM12) January 20, 2025
He ready for that ant belt
— Pyyscho💯 (@Pyyscho) January 20, 2025
Bro this ain’t helping his image 😭😭
— Ye’s_Burner (@NotSaneYeFan) January 20, 2025
his ancestors disappointed smh
— Chris Anthoni (@ChrisAnthonii) January 20, 2025
Disrespectful
— Jeremiah Wilks (@JeremiahWilkss) January 20, 2025
Ja Morant remembers the iconic MLK speech “I Have a Gleam” @benmaller @uhbroncofan @FSRTechQueen pic.twitter.com/QJcQAt9apD
— late night drug tester (@DrugLate) January 21, 2025
The Grizzlies, currently holding the third-best record in the Western Conference, will need to navigate this situation carefully as they continue their season.
Morant, known for his electrifying play on the court, has faced criticism in the past for his actions off the court, including a previous suspension for incidents involving firearms on social media. This latest controversy adds to the challenges he faces in maintaining a positive public image.