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Ted Cruz uses Bradley Beal’s coronavirus vaccine status in tweet to support anti-vaxxers

The Texas senator stands by the Washington Wizards star’s refusal to get the coronavirus vaccine. He’s also doing it for political reasons.

2021-22 Washington Wizards Media Day
I guess Ted Cruz may be a Wizards fan now?
Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

In the last several years, NBA players and professional athletes in general have become more vocal about standing up for various social and political causes. So it should be no surprise that politicians will do the same to further their interests.

On Wednesday, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz tweeted his support of Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal’s current refusal of getting the coronavirus vaccine. He also mentioned other players like Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins and Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Issac in the same tweet along with the hashtag “#YourBodyYourChoice.”

He went on to add that he agreed with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James who was previously wary about the coronavirus vaccine before ultimately getting it.

Of the messages in Cruz’s tweet-burst, the first one generated the most responses, including former New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy who has become quite vocal politically.

Cruz’s tweet comes at a time where the coronavirus pandemic is in the middle of a wave due to the delta variant this past summer. While there are reports that he himself is vaccinated, he clearly tweeted this to use some NBA players, including Beal, to further his agenda to let those who don’t want a vaccine be.

It was already significant news that Beal wasn’t vaccinated against the coronavirus. But it’s also not good news for Beal and the Wizards to be tied to a member of Congress known for controversy.