The NBA has called off the Atlanta Hawks’ plans for a night celebrating the city’s famed Magic City strip club, saying it did so because of “concerns” from many across the league.
Atlanta announced the plan last month, saying the team would pay tribute to an “iconic cultural institution” with food – including the club’s famous lemon pepper wings – along with a live music performance by Atlanta native TI and exclusive merchandise.
After the Hawks announced plans for the promotion, San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet spoke out about the idea and urged the parties involved to reconsider. And the league evidently heard the same messaging from others.
Related: Luke Kornet says Atlanta Hawks’ theme night with strip club Magic City objectifies women
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”
The Hawks had no immediate comment. The tribute game had been scheduled for next Monday against the Orlando Magic.
Kornet wrote in a Medium post that it “would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society”.
“We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience,” he wrote. “The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
Al Horford, the Golden State Warriors center who played nine seasons for the Hawks, reposted Kornet’s letter with the caption, “Well said Luke”.
Rappers Drake, Quavo and 2 Chainz have praised Magic City’s impact on music and celebrity culture. Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal have also visited, while MLS’s Atlanta United celebrated their 2018 title at the club.
Hawks principal owner Jami Gertz was a producer for a five-part docuseries that explored Magic City’s history, its place in Black and hip-hop culture and what it means to the city.
“This collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work that we did to put together ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’” Gertz, who is also a film-maker and actor, said when the promotion was announced. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”
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