Bubba Wallace Interview Transcript: Reacts to FBI Decision That No Hate Crime Was Committed

Don Lemon: (00:06) Have you seen ropes like that hanging from garages? Is that typical? Bubba Wallace: (00:12) Don, the image that I have and I have seen of what was hanging in my garage is not a garage pull. I've been racing all my life. We've raced out of hundreds of garages that never had garage pulls like that. So people that want to call it a garage pull and put out old videos and photos of knots being as their evidence, go ahead, but from the evidence that we have, that I have, it's a straight-up noose. The FBI has stated it was a noose over and over again. NASCAR leadership has stated that it was a noose. I can confirm that I actually got evidence of what was hanging in my garage, over my car, around my picker guys, to confirm that it was a noose and never seen anything like that. It's not something ... I talked to my crew chief about it, I said, "Is this something like ... " I wanted to make sure we weren't jumping the gun and I said, "This isn't a knot. This isn't just a regular old what do you call it." He's like, "Bubba, this isn't something that can be done within a second of just tying a knot and being on the way. This is something that took time." Don Lemon: (01:23) So what are you saying here? Are you saying that you don't believe, do you believe that it was intended for you in that way or are you ... What are you saying here? Bubba Wallace: (01:36) It was a noose. It was a noose that was whether tied in 2019 or whatever, it was a noose so it wasn't directed at me but somebody tied a noose. That's what I am saying. It is a noose. Don Lemon: (01:51) Let me just read from NASCAR here. They said, "We appreciate the FBI's quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional racist against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing." What do you think about that? It seems like NASCAR has your back but are you worried about the backlash? Bubba Wallace: (02:14) I get backlash every day. I think we talked about that, whatever, I'm used to it, but it stings a little bit worse when they're trying to test your character like I said earlier and try to take something away from me that's false, but the backlash will always be there. It doesn't matter if we provide 100% facts and evidence, photo evidence, people are going to Photoshop it to make me look like the bad person, at the end of the day I will always have haters. I will always have the motivators to go out there and to try to dethrone me from the pedestal that I am on. For all the kids that are watching and want to be in sports, just know that you will automatically become ... Or be put on a pedestal, whether you like it or not. That's what happens when you have a voice and you have a platform. People are going to try to take that away from you with all their power. They will lose sleep over making sure you don't succeed so you have to be strong, always keep your head on a swivel and always watch your back but always stand up for what's right.