Small-Town Cop Who Made Hilarious Viral Video Mocking LeBron James Has Been Fired

Nate Silvester, the Idaho deputy marshal whose video mocking LeBron James garnered 6 million views on TikTok, has been fired from his job in a move so controversial that the local mayor is calling for “calm and understanding.”

Bellevue, Idaho Mayor Ned Burns announced the officer’s firing on Thursday, saying the decision was made by Silvester's superiors and that the deputy was terminated for repeated policy violations, not for the tone or content of his online speech.

When the officer was first suspended, the Bellevue Marshal's Office insisted Silvester's speech didn't represent the views of his employer. “The Bellevue Marshal's Office always demands that our deputies engage with our citizens in a friendly and professional manner,” it said in a statement. “This is not how we expect our deputies to act on duty or use any city time. This is a personnel issue that is being dealt with internally.”

Silvester’s best friend, Gannon Ward, started a fundraiser to try and raise a few bucks so that his friend would not be out any pay over the joke. People rallied and raised over a half million dollars for him and his family. He subsequently landed a book deal about life as a police officer in these crazy times.