ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The NBA has canceled a highly-anticipated Atlanta Hawks promotion after receiving some backlash.
The league announced Monday that the planned promotion with Magic City adult entertainment club would not be happening next week.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement:
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale. 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.”
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The Hawks released a statement saying, “while we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City promotion, we fully respect its decision. As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta – with authenticity – in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.”
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet on March 2 called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel the promotion, saying he and other NBA players were surprised by the team’s decision to promote the adult entertainment club.
Kornet wrote that allowing the March 16 event during the Hawks’ game against the Orlando Magic “would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
The Hawks announced the promotion last month, saying it would include a live performance by Atlanta native T.I., and have two versions of Magic City’s famed chicken wings and a special hoodie available for purchase.
T.I. will still perform as scheduled, the team said.
The hoodie will no longer be available for purchase at the game, but all pre-orders will be honored.
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