After Monday’s game, a video surfaced online of filmmaker Spike Lee being denied into an employee entrance at a New York Knicks game. The video shows Lee having a back and forth with security in front of an elevator at Madison Square Garden.
“I’m staying here. And if you wanna arrest me like Charles Oakley, go the f*ck ahead,” Lee tells security, referring to former NBA star, Charles Oakley who was banned and ejected from a game in 2017. Lee claims to have been using the employee entrance for the past 28 years. “They wanted me to leave the Garden, walk outside … and come back on 31st Street. And I said I’m not doing that,” the filmmaker told ESPN.
Fans have been disappointed in the treatment that the Knick’s number one fan has received and have assisted Lee by calling them out. Well, recently the New York Knicks have released a statement regarding the matter.
“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance — which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden — is laughable,” the teams PR wrote on Twitter. “It’s disappointing that Spike would try to create this false controversy to perpetuate drama. He is welcome to come to The Garden anytime via the VIP or general entrance; just not through our employee entrance, which is what he and Jim agreed to Monday night when they shook hands.”
The team then posted a photo of what appears to be Spike Lee and James Dolan shaking hands. Lee has responded to the picture by saying, “I wasn’t shaking his hand. In fact, when he came over I didn’t get up right away.”
It’s safe to say the New York Knicks have ticked off one of their longest supporting fans, as Lee has made the announcement that he is done supporting the team for the season.
