Last week, Laila Ali found herself embroiled in controversy after she made comments using the phrase “All Lives Matter.” The comments made headlines and drew criticism, with some even saying that she was a disgrace to her father.
At the time, Ali was quoted as saying, “By me not posting, it doesn’t mean that black lives don’t matter. To me, it’s obvious that black lives matter. And then… I’m like, what is posting going to do? What is speaking out going to do? ‘Yes, black lives matter. Yes, white lives matter, Asian lives matter. All lives matter.’ And that’s kind of what my focus is.”
But after the backlash that Ali endured over the comments, she took to Facebook to post a video clarifying matters. “The title [of the Huffington Post story] was very inaccurate and deceptive. I never once said that I wouldn’t post about the lives that are being killed in our country every day,” she says in the video, going on to note that she was asked about a specific athlete and situation and that she wasn’t saying she would avoid speaking about the issue in general.
“I didn’t mean that I’m not a part of any movement. The division that goes on in our country, is part of the biggest problem. That doesn’t take away that I love my people,” she says before adding, “I’m black every day. My father, everything he fought for, of course I love black people, but I also love all people.”
As for those who say she is a disgrace to her father, Ali says, “Now for people who to try to school me on my dad and say I’m a disgrace to my father’s name, how he would be so upset at me right now, and ashamed of me – really? You gon’ try and school me on MY father? My history?”
She then went on to say that racism is not just an issue for the black community and explained that her father taught her compassion for all people.
