Daymond John expressed his strong disapproval of the NCAA Tournament during a recent appearance on TMZ Live, equating it to “modern-day slavery.”
During the interview on TMZ Live, host Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere probed John to elaborate on his comments. John highlighted the hefty $850 billion TV deal between the NCAA and CBS and Turner in 2021.
He further pointed out that when you take into account the revenue generated from gambling, merchandise sales, and donations from alumni, the disparity between the universities and their athletes becomes even more evident. John emphasized that the athletes themselves earn nothing from these sources, emphasizing that “I think this is modern-day slavery and they’re just giving them a little bit of a crumb.”
John criticized the situation where numerous individuals are profiting immensely from the efforts of these student-athletes, while the players themselves do not benefit nearly as much.
He highlighted the stark reality that despite the players bringing in billions of dollars, they receive no financial compensation in return. John questioned the fairness of a business model where employees generate billions in revenue but receive no payment.
John advocated for a shift where it is the responsibility of the NCAA and the educational institutions to ensure that the athletes receive financial support.
