LeBron James Blasts NFL’s Suspension Of Tyreek Hill’s Photographer Following Celebration

LeBron James calls for the NFL to 'Do better.'

NBA superstar LeBron James is using his platform to call out the NFL for what he feels is an unjustified suspension of wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s photographer. James took to Instagram to defend 20-year-old Kevin Fitzgibbons, who the league banned from its sidelines for participating in Hill’s touchdown celebration on Oct. 15, TMZ reports.

“Man, “this is F’d UP!!!,” the NBA’s oldest active player said, “Suspended for the year and possibly for good! C’mon NFL! Do better! S*** ain’t that serious.”

Hill’s on-field celebration, which included the player taking Fitzgibbon’s phone and recording himself doing a backflip after scoring a touchdown, became viral immediately, but the NFL was far from pleased. Hill was penalized by officials during the game and fined after; however, Fitzgibbons was given a much more stern punishment. The photographer had his NFL media credentials stripped for the remainder of the 2023 season, and it is unclear whether they’ll be reinstated in the future.

Fitzgibbons humbly accepted his penance with a gracious response posted to TikTok, CBS Sports reports.

“They said regardless if I knew the celebration was coming or not, I still had to be disciplined and that I shouldn’t have jumped on the sidelines after the play. One of the best moments of my life turned upside down in a matter of seconds. I get why the NFL had to make this decision and wish I could’ve done something to prevent it, but I’m thankful for the memory Tyreek gave me,” he said. “This was the greatest job in the world and I never took a day for granted. I can’t thank the NFL enough for the opportunity. Whether it’s back with the NFL or starting a new sport, I just hope to get another chance at doing what I love.”

Hill addressed his celebration after the game. “I seen the camera, and I just took it from him. And he didn’t want me to take it from him,” he said, according to The Athletic: “That’s my boy KFitz, man.”