Police in Tennessee conduct a welfare check on the suspended Memphis Grizzlies star after he posted cryptic messages that sounded like a farewell on his Instagram Stories.
- May 25, 2023
AceShowbiz - Ja Morant is safe after raising concerns among his fans with his social media posts. Cops have confirmed that the NBA star, who is currently suspended following his second gun incident, is "fine" after conducting a welfare check.
The Public Information Officer for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office tells ESPN that police went to the basketball player's home in Tennessee on Wednesday morning, May 24, shortly after he shared the alarming messages.
After visiting Morant's home, the officers say he is "fine." He also told the police simply "that he is taking a break from social media."
Earlier Wednesday, Morant shared pictures of him with his mother, father and young daughter on his Instagram Stories. He captioned the snaps with, "Love ya ma [blue heart emoji]. Love ya pops [blue heart emoji]. You da greatest baby girl [blue heart emoji] love ya," before concluding with, "Bye."
Considering the turmoil he's faced since he was seen flashing a gun in a video for the second time, his fans expressed worry about the 23-year-old's mental health and his safety. One person wrote on Twitter, "Ja Morant says goodbye on his Instagram Story this morning after showing love to his family. Regardless of if this actually means something or not, we're unsure, so just say a prayer for that man. Could be nothing and just a misunderstanding - could be the unthinkable."
"Damn, man. Prayers up for @JaMorant...hope everything is good," another echoed the sentiment. Someone else chimed in, "I blame the NBA and all the black commentators who chose to destroy instead of uplifting this bro in love, support, and patience. Stay Strong."
Earlier this month, Morant broke his silence following his second suspension due to a similar issue in less than three months. "I know I've disappointed a lot of people who have supported me," the Memphis Grizzlies star said in a statement on May 16. Taking accountability for his action, he is determined to continue to "work" on himself.
"This is a journey & I recognize there is more work to do," the athlete continued. "My words may not mean much right now, but I take full accountability for my actions. I'm committed to continuing to work on myself."
