The Charlotte Hornets apologized for giving a PlayStation 5 to a 13-year-old fan in an on-court skit throughout Monday’s sport, solely to take it from him as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.
“During (Monday) night time’s sport there was an on-court skit that missed the mark. The skit included unhealthy resolution making and poor communication,” the Hornets mentioned in an announcement launched Tuesday. “Simply put, we turned the ball over and we apologize. We have reached out to the household and are dedicated to not solely making it proper however to exceeding expectations.”
The Hornets mentioned they returned the PS5 to the fan and can give him a VIP expertise for a future sport.
The skit got here in a sport break throughout the second quarter of Monday’s sport in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center. The boy joined Charlotte’s mascot, Hugo, who was dressed as Santa, on the courtroom. In-game host Ohavia Phillips learn a letter to Santa that included a request for a PS5 for Christmas as a Hornets cheerleader walked as much as Hugo and gave him a present bag. The mascot then pulled a PS5 out of the bag and gave it to the stunned boy.
However, the Hornets took the PS5 from the fan after the cameras turned off and a staffer changed it with a jersey.
Queen City News spoke to the fan’s uncle, Alexei Phillips, who took the boy to Monday’s sport. Phillips mentioned a Hornets staffer approached them early within the sport and requested in the event that they’d wish to take part in an on-court second however offered no extra particulars.
Shortly earlier than the boy stepped on the courtroom, a employees member instructed Phillips that his nephew wouldn’t get to maintain his reward however didn’t clarify what the reward was or inform the boy that it was solely a skit. Phillips mentioned he was confused, and after his nephew left the courtroom with the PS5, a employees member came visiting and confiscated the console. The boy was confused and dissatisfied, and cheerleaders, dancers and different crew employees members standing close by had been additionally shocked he couldn’t preserve the merchandise, in keeping with Phillips.
The Hornets obtained heavy criticism for taking the PS5 from the younger fan, prompting the crew to treatment the state of affairs and return the console.
Charlotte misplaced to Philadelphia 121-108 Monday night time, falling to 7-19 on the season.
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(Photo: Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
