Laila Ali Clarifies ‘All Lives Matter’ Comments, Reacts To Criticism She’s A Disgrace To Late Father Muhammad Ali

Laila Ali is speaking out, addressing comments that she recently made about police brutality and her All Lives Matter comments. Last week, the retired boxing champ made headlines, when she 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.

Laila posted a Facebook video clarifying the situation. She explains,

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 that she was asked a specific question about a specific athlete and explained that her page is a lifestyle page.

I said, ‘On my Facebook page, I don’t post pro-black content’, because I don’t want people to feel alienated.

Laila also clarifies the comments she said about losing sponsors stating,

You have to find balance, it’s not an easy thing. That’s just real talk. I wasn’t saying that you don’t say anything. That you don’t take a stand.

Laila Ali

She continued,

You have to be careful…If you say things, or step on people’s toes, you might get sued.

When she made the All Lives Matter comments during her interview she says,

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 continues,

I’m black every day. My father, everything he fought for, of course I love black people, but I also love all people.

Muhammad Ali circa 2008

Laila also addresses some of the backlash that she received. Some suggested that her late father Muhammad Ali, would not share her same point of view. To this, she responds,

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 states that as her father became older, he began to understand that racism isn’t just a black issue. Laila says that her father began to preach about love and compassion.

See the full video below.

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