The most recent edition of Time magazine features WNBA superstar Brittney Griner on the cover.
Griner has been “wrongfully detained” in Russia for 161 days since being arrested at a Moscow airport on drug charges in February.
“Brittney Griner and the Fight for Freedom,” the cover reads.
The sports world took to Twitter to react to this magazine cover.
“Pretty weird times,” wrote one fan.
“Take her home,” said another.
“OK, it’s out of control. I understand what she’s going through is kinda lame. But how can TIME magazine stick a woman who’s been in jail for 6 months for drugs on the cover when it’s there are people serving decades of sentences in their own country for the same thing?” another added.
“It’s not fair to all those other Americans or their families who were detained and/or died in hostile countries. The only difference is that the media took up his cause. Need more consistency with the taking of conscience of Americans unjustly detained overseas,” wrote another.
Griner was arrested after Russian officials allegedly found vaping cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.
Griner testified for the first time on Wednesday, saying there was a translation issue that caused her to sign papers without any knowledge of what they entailed.
This Time magazine cover is one of many pushed by the American media/public. On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced a proposed prisoner exchange with the aim of bringing back Griner and fellow American Paul Whelan.