E-40, center, watches throughout an NBA basketball sport between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Path Blazers in San Francisco, Dec. 30, 2022. The Sacramento Kings are investigating allegations from the rapper E-40 that “racial bias” led to him being kicked out of his seat throughout a playoff sport towards the Golden State Warriors.
Jeff Chiu/AP
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Jeff Chiu/AP
E-40, center, watches throughout an NBA basketball sport between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Path Blazers in San Francisco, Dec. 30, 2022. The Sacramento Kings are investigating allegations from the rapper E-40 that “racial bias” led to him being kicked out of his seat throughout a playoff sport towards the Golden State Warriors.
Jeff Chiu/AP
The Sacramento Kings say they’re investigating an incident by which the rapper E-40 was ejected from their area throughout Saturday’s playoff sport towards the Golden State Warriors, an incident he says was the results of “racial bias.”
The rapper, born Earl Stevens, Jr., mentioned in an announcement to NPR that he was subjected to “disrespectful heckling” throughout Saturday’s playoff sport and addressed one heckler in an “assertive however well mannered” method earlier than being ordered to go away the Golden 1 Middle area by safety guards.
“Sadly, it was yet one more reminder that — regardless of my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias stays prevalent,” the rapper mentioned in an announcement.
“Safety noticed a disagreement between a Black man and a white girl and instantly assumed that I used to be at fault,” he added.
The precise trigger for the rapper’s removing from the sector continues to be unclear, and the Kings say they’re investigating why he was ejected.
“The Sacramento Kings take these claims severely and are investigating the info and circumstances concerning the state of affairs, as we do anytime an accusation like that is made,” the group mentioned in an announcement.
The 55-year-old rapper mentioned that whereas he is attended numerous NBA video games all through his lifetime and has all the time prided himself on professionalism, Saturday’s expertise was “jarring.”
“I used to be completely humiliated by the Kings’ safety group and I am calling on the franchise to analyze the appalling conduct that transpired,” the rapper mentioned.
Stevens, a Bay Space native, is a outstanding Golden State Warriors fan and was a part of the group’s delegation that visited the White Home earlier this yr.
“It is unlucky. I really like 40. He is been our largest supporter for years,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson instructed reporters Sunday.
“I hope they proper that ship as a result of he deserves to be there by our bench. In my time figuring out him, he is all the time been respectful. He is all the time been thoughtful of these round him. Very bizarre to see, and I hope it is resolved,” he added.
