Ben Simmons’ sister Liv lashes Australia’s ‘racism problem’ after Crown casino controversy
Liv Simmons has teed off after the Crown casino controversy that engulfed her NBA superstar brother Ben, labelling Australia “racist” and “biased” in a social media rant.
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Ben Simmons’ sister has slammed critics of the NBA superstar, saying her brother is not a liar or aggressive and that Australia has a racism problem.
Melbourne-based mother and basketball coach Liv Simmons took no prisoners, saying she was tired of “old white Australian men” for saying things aren’t racist when they are.
“You don’t know what it feels like to be the only person to have ur bag checked when leaving a store or being denied entry for the color (sic) of your skin,” Simmons posted to social media this morning.
“This country needs a serious change.”
Simmons — Australia’s highest-paid athlete — made international headlines on Monday night after posting a video on his Instagram page suggesting his rejection from the Crown Casino in Melbourne was a result of racial profiling.
It was yesterday revealed that he was paid $50,000 to promote Victoria on social media.
“I live in Melbourne so I stand by anyone who says they feel as though it was racial,” his sister wrote.
“Chances are it was. Australian racism is silent and because we have nobody to represent us (people of color) on tv apart from Waleed Aly, when stories break they’re always biased and one-sided.”
Ms Simmons backed her brother, putting entertainment reporter Peter Ford on the bench for criticising the Philly star’s paid deal with Visit Victoria to promote his home country as an influencer on social media.
Ford wrote his taking issue had nothing to do with Simmons being “black”, saying this is “about ego, not skin colour”.
Also my brother is not aggressive I took all the aggression from my mother womb and didn’t leave a lot left for him.........
— Liv Alice Simmons (@livvalice) August 7, 2019
I’ve been into crown with a camouflage jumpsuit on. In the mahogany room at that. Given I was with my rich white friends and I’m cute (Issa jk relax) but this is a true story. I often wear camo pants to crown.
— Liv Alice Simmons (@livvalice) August 7, 2019
Don’t be mad cause you’d look dumb in camo Peter.
“My brother doesn’t lie,” Ms Simmons fired back. “Yet again another white man discrediting a black mans (sic) experience.
“I would say walk a mile in his shoes but your teeny tiny feet wouldn’t fit into his shoes sooo yah.
“The stench of your privilege & serious lack of knowledge when it comes to the commitments this young man has & the impact he has in his community is genuinely flabbergasting.
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“Cant (sic) wait till he helps the youth of this country & you look silly for trying to tear this young man down.”
Ms Simmons also wrote that Australia is “such an amazing country”, but went on to write: “What cannot be denied is we have a racism problem out here but it’s silent racism so people just sweep it under the rug”.
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“Just a quick history: when the British invaded this land they did what we now call ‘the stolen generation’ they took lighter skin children from their parents and raised them to be white. Wiping out an entire generation of our indigenous people,” she said.
“To this day they are trying to knock down sacred land; our indigenous people have all been treated like shit but people will stay selling their art, using them and their creative ways so (sic) make money.”
Simmons flew back to his hometown of Melbourne earlier this month to do a series of basketball clinics and training sessions with Australia ahead of the exhibition games.
In the past week, the 76er and his entourage have been spotted enjoying corporate hospitality at the footy, cruising around town in an $800,000 car, choppering to the Yarra Valley and spending time with Richmond’s AFLW stars.