Just when you think the worst is over, something even harder hits, and that’s life. And for Flau’Jae Johnson? She is in a similar spot. Well, her absence should have sparked concern, instead, it ignited controversy. As a rapper and college basketball player for the LSU Tigers, it was always hard for her to manage both ways. And with LSU securing its No. 3 seed with a 27-4 record, there’s Flau’Jae Johnson who couldn’t celebrate the success. Reason? Her shin inflammation which sidelined her—oh, it couldn’t get worse than this. Instead of sympathy, fans are calling her out. The justification? Well, we will know.

But what is the context? According to ESPN Women’s Hoops, “LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson will miss the SEC tournament, coach Kim Mulkey said Sunday. Johnson has been battling shin inflammation since Feb. 16. The hope is that she will be healthy enough to return for the start of the NCAA tournament.” Yes, this one announcement took the entire fanbase for a ride. Even worse, LSU lost a game where her absence was felt!

The announcement followed LSU’s 85-77 loss to Ole Miss, a game in which the Tigers sorely missed Johnson’s presence. Her absence was magnified after her lackluster performance against Alabama, which came with her apology and an expectation that she would come back with a vengeance in the upcoming games.

But not everyone was ready to burden her. With a tournament berth secured, Coach Mulkey allowed her to prioritize her long-term health. Coach Mulkey added, “When your shins are hurting you — it’s like your feet and your back when they are hurting you cannot mentally perform,” Mulkey explained. “I don’t care how tough you are, how much pain tolerance you have — it affects you. She has tried her hardest and put her heart out there. I just decided after Alabama, we are a No. 3 seed no matter if we win another ball game, so why not do it now?”

So what angered the base? ‘Rather than focusing on her recovery, she’s trading the hardwood for the recording booth’. That’s quite an allegation, but again, you can’t take the most important stakeholders for a ride here. But is it just an allegation or her passion for music is overshadowing her commitment to basketball?

Balancing beats and buckets: Fans debate over Flau’Jae Johnson’s priorities

Before she was a star on the court, Johnson made a name for herself in music (at least she was trying). She first gained recognition on Netflix’s The Rap Game, a competition for young rappers. Though she didn’t win, her talent turned heads. She built on that momentum, dropping freestyles and independent tracks, and eventually landing a deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s iconic label. But that isn’t aging well with her basketball fans. “Translation: she’ll be in the studio recording music until the tournament.” The comment dripped with sarcasm, showed a growing sentiment among some LSU fans who believe Flau’Jae Johnson’s off-court ambitions are causing her to lose out on her game.

Despite her history of balancing both passions, some fans weren’t buying it. “What a soft a–,” one fan commented, as the conversation quickly veered from her injury to her commitment. Another passionate follower claimed, “Angel would never.” Are you sure? If you were an avid follower of the game, you would know that Angel Reese’s rookie WNBA season with the Chicago Sky ended early due to a wrist injury, requiring surgery and months of recovery. But yes, seeing from the fans’ perspective, the issue isn’t with injury but intent, because in reality, managing injuries is part of an athlete’s journey.

The grill didn’t stop as fans continued with their criticism. One of them added, “Shin inflammation? So very soft, I bet she tells everyone she is built different.” Isn’t it too cruel, well, for you to decide? Beyond her impact on the court, she has carved out a successful music career, with songs like Flau and B charting on Apple Music. She was even named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list. She did this while playing in 30 of LSU’s 32 games this season, averaging 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 46.5% shooting. If Johnson isn’t built differently, who is?

Yet, the backlash persisted. “Shoulda been more focused on taking care of her body than making music.” But the numbers don’t lie. Johnson has been LSU’s leading scorer this season with 18.9 points per game, the sixth-best average in the SEC. She played through the injury until it was no longer feasible.

Flau’Jae Johnson is not soft. Probably she is not skipping out on basketball for music. It might be she is someone who believes in balancing two passions while giving her all to both. She didn’t decide to sit out—her coach did, prioritizing her health for the long run. And when the NCAA tournament tips off, Johnson will be back on the court, ready to silence the doubters the best way she knows how: by playing her game. And who wins? The fans.