Lolo Jones sympathizes with Oscar Pistorius after revealing that her dad was imprisoned for murder

Publish date: 2024-07-31

Olympian Lolo Jones found herself back in the news this week when she talked to TMZ about the case of South African Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who was sentenced to five years in prison this week after being convicted of culpable homicide in the death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Jones said she feels for Pistorius, at least partly because of her personal experience with an imprisoned family member.

“It’s hard for me because I actually have a dad who was in prison for murder,” Jones explained to TMZ while walking through Los Angeles International Airport. “I know on one end you have the [Steenkamp] family who’s suffering and then on the other you have Oscar, as well.”

The 32-year-old explained that her tough upbringing made her “one of the most non-judgmental people” and that she sees there are “two sides of the story.”

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In the end, Jones, who admitted she has not been following the Pistorius trial too closely, channeled her faith as a devout Christian and stated:

“You just have to keep the family in your prayers for sure because they lost their daughter, and you have to keep Oscar in your prayers to make sure that in prison he rehabs and has great counseling.”

Jones made the statements on Thursday, and the video of her remarks went viral on Friday. Reaction to what Jones has said has been minimal, however, compared with past statements she’s made.

Jones’s unfiltered mouth has gotten her in trouble already twice this year: once on “Dancing with the Stars,” when she reacted negatively to the judges’ criticism of her routine, and again for attempting to make a joke at Drake and Rihanna’s expense at the ESPYs.

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