Bay Area hip-hop legend E-40 was ejected from the playoff game between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings in Sacramento, California on Saturday night.
According to the video linked below, the rapper, whose birth name is Earl Stevens, was seen talking to security at the Golden 1 Center before being escorted out of the arena from his court-side seats.
E-40 issued a statement, claiming that he was the victim of "racial bias" which led to his ejection from the game. He said that he had been subjected to "disrespectful heckling" throughout the game and, in the fourth quarter, he turned around and addressed one heckler in an "assertive but polite manner."
Following this, Kings security approached him and assumed he had instigated the incident, leading to his ejection from the arena.
The rapper added that the incident was a reminder that despite his success as a musician and entrepreneur, racial bias remains prevalent. He claimed that the security personnel saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed he was at fault.
Sources close to the incident claimed that Golden 1 Center security believed E-40 was standing excessively, thus blocking the view of fans behind him. They allege that he refused to comply after a warning was given following many complaints, and Kings and Warriors security personnel escorted him out to avoid further distraction.
However, a source close to E-40 told Marc J. Spears of Andscape that no warning was given by Golden 1 security for standing excessively.
The Kings issued a statement on Sunday, saying that they were investigating the situation.
"The Sacramento Kings take these claims seriously and are investigating the facts and circumstances regarding the situation, as we do anytime an accusation like this is made," the team said.
E-40 had court-side seats at Golden State's Chase Center next to the Warriors bench and even joined the team's contingent when it visited the White House this year to celebrate winning last season's NBA championship. The Warriors currently trail the Kings 1-0 in the first-round series between the two teams, with Game 2 scheduled for Monday night in Sacramento.
FULL STATEMENT FROM E-40: "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 prevalent. 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 this 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."