Former Vice President Kamala Harris’s failed 2024 presidential campaign paid NBA star LeBron James’ entertainment company $50,000 for a “campaign event production,” despite no record of James attending or participating in any formal campaign events. The payment followed James’ public endorsement of Harris in the weeks leading up to the election.
Campaign finance disclosures revealed that the payment to SpringHill Entertainment, James’s media company, was made on January 28—months after he publicly backed Harris. On October 31, James posted a 75-second video to his 53 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), declaring his support for Harris while attacking President Donald Trump. The video included out-of-context clips and controversial commentary aimed at painting Trump as racist.
James wrote, “When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!” The video was produced in partnership with HollandWest Productions, which later posted that they were “thrilled” to collaborate with James on the endorsement.
While the endorsement garnered headlines, the financial transaction has raised serious ethical questions. Harris’s campaign, which raised over $1 billion, burned through its funds quickly and ended the race in debt. Donors have since expressed concern over questionable spending.
Democratic megadonor John Morgan was particularly critical, stating, “A lot of people got rich on the back of donors trying to stop Trump. And I think this disqualifies her forever—forever. If you can’t run a campaign, you can’t run America.”
The payment to SpringHill Entertainment adds to a growing list of high-dollar campaign expenditures that failed to translate into electoral success. Critics argue the transaction reflects a broader trend of celebrity influence being monetized in politics, often without measurable impact on campaign outcomes.
As Harris reportedly weighs a gubernatorial run in California, her campaign spending habits may face renewed scrutiny from both voters and donors.
