Lolo Jones' Drake-Rihanna 'joke' sparks Twitter backlash

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share via Email
• Copy Link

  Link Copied

U.S. Olympian Lolo Jones is receiving quite the backlash after taking a shot at Drake and Rihanna via Twitter.

Following the announcement that Drake would be hosting this year’s ESPY awards, Jones decided to voice her opinion last night.

Last night’s tweet received over 5,000 retweets and has become one of today’s talking points.

Is this the track and bobsled athlete’s latest attempt to stay relevant?

It wouldn’t be the first time Jones has used Twitter to catch the attention — usually negative — of fans and media alike.

One of the professional athlete’s first Twitter controversies in 2012 involved former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand.

LeGrand, a defensive end who was paralyzed during a game in 2010, jokingly tweeted the track star asking if she wanted to race.

Jones replied: “Get Checked for a concussion. Clearly, u’ve been hit in the head… Cos u arnt beating a track athlete [sic].”

After she learned of LeGrand’s injury, Jones tweeted: “Great I’m gonna get murdered for that tweet. When I had no clue who that dude was. Just responding to any athlete who challenges me to a race.”

The former football player, currently working in broadcasting, tweeted back saying he didn’t take it personally and understood where she was coming from.

Following the controversy, the Olympian took down several tweets.

Jones received backlash from the bobsledding community shortly after she began training because of a Vine video she posted, mocking the amount she was paid.

Less than a year after her tweets with LeGrand, Jones took to Twitter to poke fun at Rachel Jeantel, the 19-year-old friend of Trayvon Martin who was a witness during the George Zimmerman trial.

After watching the hearing, Jones tweeted, “Rachel Jeantel looked so irritated during the cross-examination that I burned it on DVD and I’m going to sell it as Madea goes to court.”

The tweet, which was later deleted, was found to be insensitive by many Twitter users who came to Jeantel’s defense.

Jeantel, herself, told theGrio after the conclusion of the trial that Jones is “a joke to me, and a hater.”

Last November Jones found herself amid another controversy after she Tweeted back at a fan who dressed as her for Halloween.

Countless users took to Twitter to defend the young lady who dressed as Jones. While Jones said she was joking, any comments about the personal appearance of other black women will likely generate a firestorm on social media.

After her mentions were set on fire last night by Rihanna fans worldwide, Jones followed up with this tweet:

Her latest Twitter controversy begs the question: Is she really trying to remain relevant or is she just trying to be funny and isn’t?

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.