Last week, Bay Area rap legend E-40 was removed from the Sacramento Kings' 126-123 win over the Golden State Warriors. E-40, who is a prominent Warriors fan, claims that his ejection was due to "racial bias". According to E-40, he was subjected to consistent heckling from a white fan but security only intervened when he responded. He claimed that the security at the Golden 1 Center viewed him as the instigator. The incident occurred partway through the fourth quarter.
E-40's account was met with a wave of support, including a vocal call for an apology by Jalen Rose. E-40's claims of racial bias stemmed from the fact that his white friend was not ejected with him. The Kings responded by opening an investigation into the incident. Now, it appears as though things have been resolved as the two parties released a joint statement.
Kings And E-40 Attribute Ejection To "Misunderstanding"
"After a series of thoughtful and transparent conversations, both parties agree that there was a miscommunication regarding the circumstances that occurred during the Kings vs. Warriors game on Saturday night." the statement began. E-40's addressing of the heckling behind him had been characterized as "excessive standing" but these claims were addressed as the statement continued. "Contrary to speculation, Mr. Earl "E-40" Stevens did not stand excessively from his ticketed courtside seat; the outcome resulted from an unfortunate misunderstanding between two parties." This claim was undercut by ESPN sources claiming E-40 was not warned about his conduct prior to being removed.
The statement concluded by reaffirming the King's commitment to the league's "Fan Code of Conduct" and stating the team is "looking forward to welcoming him back to our arena in the future." E-40 is a staple of Bay Area basketball, well-known for having seats close to the Warriors bench. E-40 did not attend Game 2 in Sacramento, which was another Kings win. However, his spokesperson informed ESPN that he would be in attendance at the Chase Center-hosted Game 3. No comment was made about whether E-40 would return to Golden 1 if the series mandates it. The Kings will travel to the Chase Center on Thursday, looking to make the series 3-0.
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