BREAKING NEWS: Jasmine Crockett declares she will follow Brittney Griner out of America: “There’s no respect for talent here” — A shocking statement sparking outrage, support, and a nationwide debate about fame, race, and what it truly means to be “American” in 2025.

In a statement that sent shockwaves across the nation, U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett announced that she is considering leaving America, following in the footsteps of WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Crockett, known for her fiery rhetoric and unapologetic stance on racial justice, did not mince words when she told a crowd at a recent event in Atlanta: “There’s no respect for talent here. If Brittney Griner can’t breathe in this country after everything she’s been through, then maybe it’s time I step out too.”

The reaction was immediate and polarizing. Within hours, social media exploded with hashtags like #CrockettExodus and #NoRespectForTalent, as supporters and critics alike weighed in.

For some, Crockett’s declaration was a courageous indictment of a country that still struggles to fully embrace its Black leaders, athletes, and artists. For others, it was a betrayal — a dramatic, even unpatriotic, abandonment of the very institutions she was elected to serve.

This comes just months after Brittney Griner quietly relocated abroad, citing personal safety, mental health, and the “relentless politicization of [her] identity” as factors behind her decision.

Griner, who was previously detained in Russia and returned home through a high-profile prisoner exchange in 2022, has since become a symbol — both of resilience and of how fraught fame can be for Black athletes, especially queer Black women. Her exit from the United States raised eyebrows, but it wasn’t until Crockett’s statement that the conversation turned into a full-blown national crisis.

What does it mean when a sitting congresswoman — a rising star in the Democratic Party — openly declares that she no longer feels seen, valued, or safe in the country she represents? And what does it say about America in 2025, a nation that touts itself as a beacon of opportunity but continues to alienate those who speak out against systemic injustice?

Critics argue that Crockett is turning her back on her responsibilities, accusing her of dramatizing personal frustrations for political clout. Conservative commentators wasted no time labeling her a “race-baiting opportunist” and calling for her resignation. But her defenders see something much deeper at play — not just political frustration, but emotional exhaustion.

They point to the double standards, the performative allyship, and the ongoing threats against prominent Black public figures as evidence that Crockett’s frustration is valid, even if uncomfortable.

“This isn’t about hating America,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump said on MSNBC. “It’s about demanding that America live up to its promises. If our brightest minds and most celebrated talents no longer feel at home here, that’s not their failure — it’s ours.”

Crockett’s comments have reignited debates about patriotism, freedom of expression, and racial belonging. What does it mean to love your country when that country doesn’t seem to love you back? Is it un-American to leave, or is it more American to call out injustice wherever you see it, even if that means stepping away?

In response to the backlash, Crockett took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify her position: “I’m not turning my back on America — I’m calling America out. If you’re more upset about me leaving than the reasons why I’m thinking about it, maybe you’re part of the problem.”

She’s not alone in her sentiments. A growing number of Black professionals — from tech founders to Hollywood creatives — have voiced similar frustrations about the toxic intersection of race, fame, and visibility in modern America. They talk of burnout, of constantly having to “prove their worth,” and of being hyper-visible and invisible at the same time.

As Crockett’s words continue to ripple through news cycles and dining room conversations, the question lingers: Who gets to feel truly American in 2025? For some, that question is a call to action. For others, it’s a bitter confirmation of the racial divide that still shapes so much of American life.

One thing is clear: Jasmine Crockett’s declaration was not just about geography. It was a cry from the heart, a protest wrapped in heartbreak, and a signal that the conversation about belonging, justice, and identity in America is far from over.