Lebron James’ eldest son Bronny took his white classmate, Peyton Gelfuso, to prom last weekend at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, sparking mixed reactions from internet users on social media. However, the youngest sibling in the James family, Zhuri, stole the show with her reaction to her brother attending the big event.
The high school basketball prodigy’s mother, Savannah, shared snapshots of the teens on her Instagram page Thursday, writing an emotional caption to commemorate the moment.
“Sooooo @bronny went to prom this past weekend….. Tons of emotions and realizations. Time really flies. ? So proud of you young man!! I will always have your front and your back!!? Zhuri is processing all of this too!! ??”
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In the last slide, 7-year-old Zhuri was captured with a smug look as her big brother took photos with Peyton.
“Zhuri ain’t fkn around! She don’t play about her brothers!!” The Laker player said in the comments.
After the photos went viral, Twitter users voiced their opinions on Bronny taking 17-year-old Peyton \ to prom while sharing similar reactions to the 7-year-old.
One user said, “Zhuri is all the black women on Twitter looking at Bronny James prom pics.”
Zhuri is all the black women on Twitter looking at Bronny James prom pics.
pic.twitter.com/RWcujmGC9c
— Great Value Denzel (@Hampsworld) May 19, 2022
“Zhuri James is everything,” another user said.
Zhuri James is everything.
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) May 18, 2022
“Zhuri James was processing something else in her mind and it wasn’t her brother, Bronny, growing up attending prom. Her face says it all,” a third user tweeted with multiple laughing emojis.
Zhuri James was processing something else in her mind and it wasn't her brother, Bronny, growing up attending prom. Her face says it all
pic.twitter.com/Esx9OVQvVn
— It's Not Zac's Baby (@H3llo10) May 22, 2022
Here are a few more tweets from users highlighting young Zhuri’s viral moment.
Zhuri James just locked up meme of the year. pic.twitter.com/GxhxU305N4
— Justin Tinsley (@JustinTinsley) May 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/PurpleG44836141/status/1527200523857821698
We all know what Zhuri James was thinking in that photo
— Cowboy Crys (@ThisbyCrys) May 18, 2022
GET OUT pt. 2 Directed by Zhuri James @KingJames https://t.co/fRLcDyeGUu
— Ebon (@EbonthePhenom) May 18, 2022
Lmao why y’all bring little Zhuri James into this with that look
https://t.co/CAolGr2nRm
— Ceezy (@m_cole34) May 18, 2022
While some found an issue with the high schooler taking Gelfuso to prom, others, including former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III had a few choice words for the critics.
“LEAVE THESE KIDS ALONE! People clowning Bronny for his prom date are just miserable. Let them enjoy their day,” RGIII tweeted.
LEAVE THESE KIDS ALONE!
People clowning Bronny for his prom date are just miserable. Let them enjoy their day. pic.twitter.com/ji3CG1dW0E— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) May 19, 2022
Griffin also posted a video on his Instagram account, saying, “He could take an avatar to prom for all I care,” Griffin said. “Who he chooses is who he chooses. And secondly, it’s giving weird energy that a bunch of grown men and women, 40-year-old men and women, are trying to tell a 17-year-old who they think he should bring to prom.”
He added, “This ain’t got nothing to do with LeBron and Savannah not raising Bronny right,” he said. “The color of the skin of a girl he takes to prom should not matter. Leave these kids alone.”
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Griffin also faced criticism for marrying outside of his race after he wed Estonian athlete Grete Sadeiko in 2018.
“It is not anti-black to love someone outside your race,” the NFL veteran told the critics, TMZ reported.
