Give Lolo Jones credit for knowing how to push the right buttons, and not just the "Tweet" icon.
The self-promoting Olympic athlete put herself in the spotlight on Thursday night with a joke about Rihanna's boyfriend Drake hosting this year's ESPYs.
Jones posted the following tweet about Drake.
It's amazing that Drake is hosting the @Espys but it's gonna be tough for him to hand out all those awards to Rihanna's ex boyfriends
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) April 10, 2014
Oh, no she didn't. Even Lolo Jones can't win a Twitter fight with Rihanna. Rihanna's followers came out in droves to the singer's defense, or more precisely, to take Lolo down a couple thousand notches. Deadspin posted some of the meaner responses to Jones' joke.
I heard people saying Lolo Jones was tripping again, but I assumed they just meant over a hurdle. Again. — KNEEZUS (@fakepaulk) April 11, 2014
If they put a finish line at the end of the red carpet at the ESPY's, @lolojones won't enter the building.
— 6th Hokage (@35DBack) April 11, 2014
If Lolo Jones could run #DemFeets like she run her mouth she'd be a champion — Cerrome Russell (@CerromeRussell) April 11, 2014
Jones later went back on to Twitter to defend herself, saying that worse jokes than hers have been said on the ESPYs and she is absolutely correct about that. And she has not taken down the original tweet.
paleeeze. watching monologues of past espys, my joke was PG compared to how The ESPY Host will roast athletes there. https://t.co/DR6An2AOLX
— Lolo Jones (@lolojones) April 11, 2014
The problem is that the ESPY's show is a forum where people can expect some shots to be taken.
When Jones takes to Twitter with a similar joke, especially about someone the stature of Rihanna, it's the wrong forum.
Jones knows this. She has used Twitter to make her one of the more recognized Olympic athletes in the world. She has earned celebrity status in her own right, and she deserves credit for that.
She weighed in on the recent controversy of Paulina Gretzky landing on the cover of Golf Digest in a skimpy outfit while no member of the LPGA has been on the cover since 2008, and that received media play.
So even if Jones had to endure some extreme feedback, she kept her name - her brand - in the public eye, which will help her athletic and non-athletic careers in the long run.
Is Lolo Jones a self-promoter, or is she just keeping it real? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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