Whatever you may think about Carmelo Anthony’s outspokenness on gun violence and his calls for change, it’s clear he wants to make a difference.
And with the USA Men’s Basketball team not scheduled to play again in Rio de Janeiro until Wednesday — the Americans will face Argentina in the Olympic quarterfinals — Anthony took advantage of some free time to give back to the local kids.
Anthony spent the day in the favelas of Rio on Monday, playing some pickup basketball with local kids in a moment captured on video. The favelas are the notoriously violent and impoverished slums tucked into the hills of Rio.
Anthony took to Instagram on Monday to mark the occasion, posting a photo of himself sitting in a white chair with the buildings of the favelas rising in the background.
“I discovered that what most people call creepy, scary, and spooky, I call comfy, cozy, and home,” Melo wrote in the caption. “#ADayAndALifeInTheFavelas #StayMe7o.”
According to his Snapchat, Anthony also came across a graffiti artist who decided to paint a mural of the Knicks star on a wall in the favela. “Blessing the favela with a mural of myself!!!” Anthony wrote in one caption. “Stay Me7O in the favelas. Respect goes a long way,” read another.
Considering how dangerous the favelas can be and the immense media attention paid to the deteriorating conditions in Rio, it is surprising Melo would risk traveling into these parts of the city. On Sunday, Ryan Lochte and three other members of the USA swimming team were robbed at gunpoint in Rio by individuals impersonating police officers. Lochte said one of the robbers pressed a gun to his head when he didn’t cooperate.
Nonetheless, it seems Anthony is taking a boots-on-the-ground approach to his advocacy efforts.
