Racial slur sprayed on LeBron James's Los Angeles home: police
Property manager told officers they believe incident captured on surveillance video
Police are investigating after someone spray painted a racial slur on the front gate of LeBron James' home in Los Angeles on the eve of the NBA Finals.
An unidentified person spray painted the N-word on the front gate of James' home in the Brentwood neighbourhood Wednesday morning, said Capt. Patricia Sandoval, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department.
James wasn't at the home at the time, but the property manager told officers that they believe the incident was captured on surveillance video, Sandoval said. Police are investigating it as an act of vandalism and possible hate crime.
Someone painted over the slur before officers arrived to investigate, Sandoval said.
Lebron James: "No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, being black in America is tough." <a href="https://t.co/x94WzigGMA">pic.twitter.com/x94WzigGMA</a>
—@Phil_Lewis_Speaking in Oakland, where his Cleveland Cavaliers face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals beginning Thursday night, James said, "if this is to shed a light and continuing to keep the conversation going on my behalf then I'm OK with it."
"My family is safe, they're safe and that's the most important," James said. "But it just goes to show that racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. You know hate in America, especially for African Americans, is living every day. Even though that it's concealed most of the time, you know people hide their faces and will say things about you and when they see you they smile in your face, it's alive every single day."
James bought the house in 2015 for over $20 million US. The 9,440-square-foot home is not James' primary residence. He lives in Bath, Ohio.
In 2015, James and his production company signed a developmental deal with Warner Bros. worth $15 million US, an agreement that has him spending more time in Southern California. James spent several weeks in Los Angeles last summer working with his production company.
James' agent, Rich Paul, declined to comment on the vandalism.
James and the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals beginning Thursday night, with Game 1 in Oakland.