“It was horrendous. So horrendous” said 48-year-old Harry Rashid, who might never be the same after what he saw unfold on a lively evening in Liverpool. What was supposed to be a memorable celebration of Liverpool FC’s Premier League victory turned into a tragedy after a car collided, or rather “rammed”, the pedestrians attending the victory parade in the city centre. The incident has reportedly left nearly 50 people injured, including children. Tributes and messages highlighting people’s shock started coming in as soon as the tragedy became headlines. Even LeBron James, for whom the celebration was also turned into a misfortune, did not waste time in sending out a message.

The 40-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star took to X in the aftermath of the incident at Liverpool, and wrote “OMG!!!! WTH. My deepest thoughts and prayers goes out to everyone affected that attended @LFC Premiere League trophy parade today!  Such a senseless act! 🤦🏾‍♂️. #YNWA 💔”. Along with being a soccer fan, LeBron James is also a co-owner of the Premier League club. So, it isn’t a surprise that, at a time like this, he chose to send his message in support of all the people affected by this senseless act.

According to the BBC, the incident occurred around 18:00 BST. Dozens of people were injured, with two reported to be in serious condition, and 27 were taken to the hospital for treatment. Approximately 20 to 30 casualties received initial care at the Riva Blu Italian restaurant across the road. Authorities later arrested a 53-year-old British man from the Liverpool area on suspicion of being the driver involved.

Before the incident, the atmosphere on the streets of Liverpool was one of pure joy. An open-top bus carrying the Liverpool team had just passed the iconic Royal Liver Building, with massive crowds breaking into a heartfelt rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. Fireworks and ticker tape filled the sky, and from an apartment on Mann Island, former managers Jürgen Klopp and Sir Kenny Dalglish waved to the sea of jubilant supporters below.

The Liverpool City Council had estimated that half a million people lined the 10-mile parade route to celebrate the team’s triumph. But in the midst of that celebration, one man’s actions cast a dark shadow. Though the situation could have turned far more tragic given the scale of the crowd, the disruption served as a stark reminder: no personal grievance or motive ever justifies shattering a moment meant to unify and uplift a community.

LeBron James wasn’t the only one who highlighted their reaction to the parade incident. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it an “appalling” act, and said that his thoughts were with all those injured or affected. Jamie Carragher, the footballer who played for Liverpool from 1996 to 2013, called it a “Devastating end to the day………just pray everyone is ok.” LeBron James would have certainly taken a moment to absorb the news of what happened. After all, he may support many other teams in different sports leagues, but Liverpool FC means something special to him.

What is LeBron James’ history with Liverpool FC?

LeBron James first became associated with Liverpool FC back in 2011, when he bought a 2% stake in the football club. Tom Werner, chairman of Liverpool and co-founder of FSG Tom Werner, revealed that the foundation for the partnership was laid when Paul Wachter, an FSG partner, introduced the team’s front office to the NBA player.

As Werner recalled, “We had a conversation a number of years ago with LeBron to see if we could help him with his marketing. I’m probably going back a dozen years, but LeBron said, ‘you know what, let’s become partners. He said, ‘what I’d really rather do than get paid and pay you a certain sum of money is I’d like to be an investor in Liverpool.’”

It was a smart business decision from LeBron’s side. His 2% ownership stake in Liverpool FC has seen extraordinary growth. His initial $6.5 million investment is now estimated to be worth approximately $108 million, reflecting a staggering return of over 1,560% across a 14-year span. This surge in value is based on the club’s latest $5.4 billion valuation—an impressive leap from previous estimates and a testament to the franchise’s global rise in stature. LeBron would later go on to use that share money to buy a 1% ownership in the Fenway Sports Group, which not only holds a stake in the Liverpool football club, but also in the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

LeBron James’ involvement with Liverpool wasn’t just a simple investment. The 4x NBA champion made efforts to ensure that the team grows over time. This was seen when the Lakers star was credited for helping Liverpool complete a $95 million Nike Kit Deal. Ahead of the 2020/21 season, the football club had taken New Balance to court to end their reported £70 million a year deal. When discussing the Nike Deal, Werner revealed that “I’m always a little cautious about using the word synergy, but his (LeBron’s) partnership with Liverpool has resulted in our relationship with Nike, they now are our kit sponsor, and Nike is coming out with a number of branded products that connect LeBron James with Liverpool Football Club, and so these are opportunities to work with smart people.”

Since then, the football club and the NBA player have also collaborated on several projects. Back in February 2023, around the same time LeBron James became the NBA’s All-Time Scorer, the first-ever Liverpool FC x LeBron collection was introduced. This included a couple of special jerseys — one soccer, one basketball — as well as a hoodie, shorts, long-sleeve workout tops, and a pair of custom sneakers. A second collection was introduced in March 2024.

talkSPORT journalist Joshua Rogers described LeBron James’ $6.5 million Liverpool investment as a ‘domino effect’, which led to several other celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Tom Brady, and J.J. Watt to invest a combined $1 billion in English football. Once again, it’s hard to underestimate the power of ‘LeInfluence’. As updates come in about the tragedy at the Liverpool parade, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims.