E-40, a longtime Golden State Warriors fan, was forced to leave his courtside seat during the NBA playoffs game between the Warriors and the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, April 15. He's since issued a statement, citing racial bias for the move.
League sources told The Athletic that the Bay Area Hip-Hop mogul was standing excessively throughout the game, blocking the view of fans. Per The Athletic, "King's security says they received multiple complaints, gave E-40 a warning on Saturday night and Warriors security ultimately escorted him from his seat to avoid further issue." However, sources close to E-40 told The Athletic that he "never received a warning."
40 issued a statement to The Athletic the following morning. It reads:
On Saturday night, I was subjected to disrespectful heckling over the course of the Warriors-Kings game in Sacramento. During the fourth quarter, I finally turned around and addressed one heckler in an assertive but polite manner. Yet, shortly thereafter, Kings’ security approached me, assumed that I instigated the encounter, and proceeded to kick me out of the arena.
Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that—despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur—racial bias remains relevant. Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault.
I’ve attended countless NBA games throughout my lifetime and have always prided myself in my professionalism, so the experience has been jarring. I was absolutely humiliated by the Kings’ security team and I’m calling on the franchise to investigate the appalling conduct that transpired.
I’m truly grateful for my fans and supporters who have reached out to express their concern and disappointment regarding these disheartening circumstances and I hope those involved are held accountable for their behavior.
