The Charlotte Hornets have apologized for an in-game skit gone flawed the place a younger fan was promised a PlayStation 5 solely to have it taken away off digital camera.
The incident unfolded throughout the second quarter of Monday’s sport towards the Philadelphia 76ers when Hugo, the crew’s mascot dressed as Santa Claus, introduced a 13-year-old fan onto the courtroom. After a letter to Santa requesting a PS5 was learn aloud, a cheerleader introduced the console, prompting cheers from the group and visual pleasure from the boy.
However the pleasure rapidly evaporated when a Hornets workers member took the console again after the cameras stopped rolling and handed the boy a jersey as an alternative, in response to witnesses and a viral social media put up. The confusion was mentioned to depart the boy, his household and even crew performers shocked.
Alexei Phillips, the boy’s uncle and a season ticket holder, instructed Queen Metropolis Information that the household had been approached by workers to take part within the skit earlier within the sport. Whereas Phillips was quietly knowledgeable moments earlier than the skit that the boy wouldn’t be holding the PS5, this significant element was not shared together with his nephew.
“Everybody thought he was holding it – cheerleaders, dancers, everybody,” Phillips mentioned. “Once they took it away, individuals assumed it was a joke. Then they realized it wasn’t.”
The incident sparked outrage on social media after a bystander’s put up in regards to the skit garnered over 3.4m views by Tuesday evening. Followers criticized the Hornets for what many known as a deceptive and “Grinch-like” gesture.
You guys wish to see an affordable sports activities group?
On this video my finest pal&his nephew get known as onto courtroom for a particular section the place they present the child a PS5 publicly… w/cameras off they TOOK IT AWAY and gave him a jersey.
😂 Take a bow @hornets… crushed the child pic.twitter.com/mcj5hhsuM5
— USMNT_STAN (@StanUsmnt) December 17, 2024
The Hornets issued a public apology on Tuesday, acknowledging their error. “Throughout final evening’s sport there was an on-court skit that missed the mark,” the crew mentioned in an announcement. “The skit included unhealthy choice making and poor communication. Merely put, we turned the ball over and we apologize.”
The crew promised to make amends by giving the boy the PS5 he was promised, together with a VIP expertise at a future sport.
Phillips mentioned the Hornets have since reached out to him and his nephew, expressing remorse for the mishap. “There are not any exhausting emotions,” he mentioned. “However this might’ve been averted in the event that they’d simply given him the jersey on the courtroom within the first place. He would’ve been thrilled.”
The Hornets misplaced 121-108 to the Sixers in Monday’s sport, dropping to 7-19 on the season.
