Politics
NEW: LeBron James Was Paid For Kamala Harris Endorsement Post, Report Reveals
NBA superstar LeBron James told the public his endorsement of Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election was a personal decision made “for my kids.” But newly released campaign finance disclosures reveal something very different behind the scenes: Harris’s campaign paid $50,000 to James’s production company shortly after the post went viral.
The payment was made to SpringHill Entertainment LLC, a company co-founded by James, on January 28, 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings. The expense was listed as a “campaign event production” and tied to Harris’s failed $1.5 billion presidential campaign — the most expensive Democratic effort in history, and the one that ultimately ended in a crushing loss to Donald Trump.
The endorsement post — which featured James praising Harris while taking shots at Trump — was shared to his nearly 100 million followers just days before the election. “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!” James wrote.
Now, critics are questioning whether the message was as personal as he claimed.
What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!! pic.twitter.com/tYYlTmQS6e
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 31, 2024
First reported by The Washington Free Beacon, the $50,000 payment to LeBron’s company wasn’t an isolated case. It was part of a bigger pattern of celebrity spending by the Harris campaign in its final months.
Disclosures show that Harris’s team handed out large sums to numerous Hollywood figures, even as polls continued to show her trailing Trump in key battleground states. Among the top payouts disclosed in the filings: Oprah Winfrey’s company received $1 million for a sit-down interview with Harris.
Beyoncé’s team was paid $165,000 for a brief appearance at a campaign rally. Cardi B was issued $58,000, despite her public claim that she was not compensated for her involvement. A nonprofit tied to MSNBC host Al Sharpton received $500,000 just weeks before Harris appeared on his program for a favorable interview.
Actress Jennifer Garner was paid $35,000, which covered event production and travel expenses. And a company connected to Barack and Michelle Obama received $100,000 for what was described as “campaign appearances.”
via X
The revelations are fueling fresh criticism of the Harris campaign’s strategy and spending priorities. Despite raising unprecedented sums and deploying an army of celebrity influencers, Harris ultimately suffered the worst general election defeat for a Democrat in decades — losing by 86 electoral votes and falling short in the popular vote.
The Harris campaign leaned heavily on celebrity culture while struggling to gain traction with working-class voters. Her frequent appearances alongside entertainers and television personalities were seen by some Democrats as tone-deaf in the face of mounting economic anxiety and public dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership.
Meanwhile, Trump’s 2024 campaign was leaner, more direct, and focused on populist themes. That approach resonated in swing states and helped deliver a stunning political comeback, securing his second term despite unprecedented legal and political opposition.
