?It Pays to Be a Celebrity Who Plays Sports?: A Week After Brittney Griner?s Return, Sharp-Tongued Journalist Drags the WNBA Star Down

The release of Brittney Griner has attracted more controversy than her arrest earlier this year. Russia released Griner from her Mordovian penal colony in exchange for Viktor Bout on December 8 through a prisoner swap deal. Many have questioned the decision to release a dangerous arms dealer like Bout. Furthermore, while Griner was brought back to the country recently, former Marine Paul Whelan still remains in exile despite being in captivity longer than the WNBA star. This has also garnered flak for the Biden administration. Recently, an outspoken conservative commentator and TV personality called out the government for their celebrity treatment of Brittney Griner at the expense of other prisoners.

Many have criticized the U.S. Government’s decision arguing Griner was brought back first just because she is a famous athlete. Several commentators have also ascribed Griner’s swift release to her political relevance and minority status as a gay African-American woman. Fox news host Tomi Lahren recently reiterated similar sentiments.

Tomi Lahren questions the release of Brittney Griner

Talking about the release of Brittney Griner, Tomi Lahren stated her disappointment with the release of Viktor Bout. She also touched on Griner’s protest of the national anthem in the past and claimed the WNBA star hated her country. Lahren also claimed that President Joe Biden’s administration has compromised national security through the release of a dangerous arms dealer like Viktor Bout.

However, Lahren added she wants to see every American prisoner overseas return home safely and said it was odd seeing Paul Whelan stranded. She implied that Griner was given priority because of her celebrity status. During her commentary on Fox News, Lahren noted, “I guess it pays to be a celebrity who plays sports!”

The TV host then added that she hopes the 2014 WNBA champion returns to the country with gratitude and is ready to stand for the national anthem. She concluded her comment by saying, “Welcome home, Brittney, and God bless America. Am I right?”

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Lahren hosted Tomi on TheBlaze where she gained attention for her short video segments criticizing liberal politics. The outspoken reporter did not hold back on her comments about the prisoner swap deal involving Griner and Bout. However, she is not the only person to criticize the swap deal. There have already been questions raised about the U.S. Government’s treatment of another American woman in a Russian prison.

The U.S. Government’s treatment of Sarah Krivanek

Sarah Krivanek was in Russian captivity for about a year. She was released on the same date as Brittney Griner. However, she was put on a commercial flight and was even required to sign paperwork agreeing that she would repay the travel expenses after returning home. Furthermore, she reportedly did not receive much help from the U.S. embassy in Russia during her detainment.

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After her interview, where she talked about her struggles in Russia, there has been major backlash about the U.S. Government’s disparate treatment of two similar cases. Many felt Griner received special benefits from the government just because of her political importance.