Bryson DeChambeau is a pro golfer who received $125 million from LIV Golf, the international golf association created by the Saudi Arabian government. This week, LIV struck a deal with the PGA that would see the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund invest billions of dollars into American companies sponsoring the events. The Saudis have also bought Newcastle, an English Premier League soccer team, and introduced its own Grand Prix Formula One motor races around the world.
It’s being called “sportswashing,” and the Saudis are getting very good at it.
But there’s one issue that no amount of “washing” will clean: the Saudi government’s involvement in funding and assisting Osama bin Laden in planning and executing the 9/11 terror attacks.
We know that this involvement included high-ranking members of the Saudi royal family and the government running interference for the terrorists despite knowing who they were and what they did. The families of 9/11 victims aren’t going to forget that and are still pursuing legal action against the Saudis for their crimes.
Related: Hell Freezes Over: PGA Gets Into Bed With Saudis, Merges With LIV Golf
But DeChambeau thinks it’s time for the 9/11 families to “move forward” from their loss.
LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau suggests 9/11 families should forgive Saudi Arabia: 'Nobody's perfect' https://t.co/ap5867rf6A
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 9, 2023
During a truly disgraceful CNN interview with Kaitlan Collins, DeChambeau was asked to respond to anger from the families of 9/11 victims who hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its role in the attacks. In a statement released Tuesday after the merger was announced, the Families of 9/11 United blasted pro golf as just “more paid Saudi shills”.
So how did Bryson respond? By acting like a paid Saudi shill.
Indeed, the Saudis got their whole $125 million’s worth.
Some selected highlights from the CNN interview.
- “I think as time has gone on, 20 years have passed, and we’re in a place where it’s time to start trying to work together to make things better together as a whole.”
- “We have to look towards a pathway to peace and forgiveness.”
- “What they’re trying to work on, is be better allies, because we are allied with them.”
“I’m not going to get into the politics of it,” DeChambeau continued. “I’m not specialized in that. What I can say is [the Saudis are] trying to do good for the world, and showcase themselves in a light that hasn’t been seen in a while, and nobody’s perfect, but we’re all trying to improve in life.”
CNN: Does it bother you to take money from those responsible for 9/11
Bryson DeChambeau: Nobody’s perfect pic.twitter.com/158D3Z23P3
— Mister Race Bannon (@MrRaceBannon) June 7, 2023
Instead of sportswashing, perhaps a simple apology from the Saudi Arabian government would be a good start. That, and a few hundred billion dollars to pay for the suffering and loss of the families, the property they destroyed, and the national trauma they inflicted on a country that was supposed to be an ally.
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