A video of LeBron James pushing an eager fan away from himself after the latter tried to approach him at an Usher concert sparked passionate discussion on Twitter on Sunday, with people trying to agree on whether the Lakers star "assaulted" the fan or was simply defending his personal space.
In a short clip filmed in the darkness of the concert, James is seen making his way through the crowd, apparently accompanied by his wife and security guards. A fan, with smartphone ready, makes an attempt to rush to his idol, but the basketballer abruptly pushes him away and continues walking.
The video was posted over the weekend and quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of users encouraged to express their opinion.
Some suggested that James was too rude, and his actions should be considered assault. Several asserted that the fan should file a lawsuit against the celebrity.
Others argued that the fan's behaviour was no better and pointed at how James was simply protecting his personal space.
There were those who quickly offered what they suggested were bigger problems.
The top-tier sportsman and his management have not commented on the situation.
Earlier, the NBA star became the subject of criticism over his part in a "Space Jam" movie sequel, "A New Generation", with people complaining that despite a high rating, the movie was targeted exclusively at families. His performance as an actor also received some backlash from netizens.