- A used car dealer claimed LeBron James bought a Bugatti, only for the NBA star to clap back personally.
- After getting exposed by social media users, the dealership admitted that it lied about the collaboration.
- Another NBA star did end up collaborating with the dealer on an apology video to James.
Celebrity endorsements can mean big bucks for automakers and dealers alike. It’s why, in part, that GMC reached out to LeBron James to collaborate on the Hummer EV. It’s also why one used car dealer in Riverside California recently claimed that James bought a car from them. When the NBA superstar found out about it, he metaphorically put them on a poster, just like he has with so many others.
The dealer in question is Effortless Motors (EF), headed up by Daniel Ubario. Last week, the Instagram account for EF posted a photo of a Bugatti coming off of a transport vehicle with the words “Congratulations @KingJames for trusting Effortless Motors.” Two days later, James noticed and reacted to the post.
Read: Acura Dealer Denies Fault For Integra Damage And Teaches Us A Lesson In The Process
“Stop the [cap]!! LIARS!! I don’t know y’all and I don’t even have that car. CLOUT CHASERS.” he said in a follow up post. That’s all it took for fans of the NBA great to pile onto the dealer in question. “No one will ever trust this company again… you think you’re smart until that cease & dease [sic[ comes to serve you,” said one.
“Now everybody knows you will publicly lie on somebody’s name just for some clicks. Ironic how you said thank you for trusting your shop in the post when in reality you’re showing the world that you CANT be trusted. Lmaoo good job marketing team. Y’all exposed yourself,” said another.
Interestingly, all of the drama led to another NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal, reaching out to Effortless Motors. In fact, the dealer appears to have used O’Neal in an apology video to LeBron. In it, the former NBA center says the original post caught his eye and led him to reach out for a vehicle. The owner of Effortless Motors then threw an intern under the bus, blaming them for the post.
“I mean, I had an intern that we just hired on. He’s doing our marketing and he posted it up. Yeah, he posted it up and threw me in there… I took it down and it’s hundred percent down and sincere apology,” says Ubario.
This whole intern explanation is a bit strange since the original source, who spoke to the owner, omits mention of it altogether. “TMZ Sports spoke with Effortless Motors owner Daniel Ubario … and he admitted it was all just a marketing ploy … and he honestly didn’t expect the post to blow up like it did.” Nowhere does Ubario or TMZ mention an intern. That seems a bit odd, but take from it what you will. Stay classy Effortless Motors.