NBA Team Under Fire for Pretending to Gift Young Fan a PS5
A mid-game skit during the Charlotte Hornets' Dec. 16 game against the Philadelphia 76ers led to an instant backlash among fans in the arena and online. After the blowback began to grow, the team quickly worked to rectify the situation.
According to Today, the Hornets' mascot Hugo dressed as Santa Claus as he read children's wishlists and surprised them with gifts. One boy was shocked when he was given a PlayStation 5. But after the cameras went off, something even more shocking occurred: Team officials took back the PS5, per an X post from the young fan's family friend. Instead, they traded out the swanky Sony console for a jersey.
You guys want to see a cheap sports organization?
— USMNT_STAN (@StanUsmnt) December 17, 2024
In this video my best friend&his nephew get called onto court for a special segment where they gift the kid a PS5 publicly… w/cameras off they TOOK IT AWAY and gave him a jersey.
???? Take a bow @hornets… crushed the kid pic.twitter.com/mcj5hhsuM5
In a statement to WCNC, the Hornets acknowledged that it was wrong to do such a thing and hoped to make up for it.
"During last night's game there was an on-court skit that missed the mark. The skit included bad decision-making and poor communication. Simply put, we turned the ball over and we apologize," the statement read.
"We have reached out to the family and are committed to not only making it right but to exceeding expectations. We will be providing the fan with the PS5 that he should have taken home last night along with a VIP experience to a future game," the team continued. "Our goal is and will remain to elevate the guest experience for every person that enters Spectrum Center, and to show our fans how much we appreciate their relentless support."
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The Hornets' next game is Dec. 19 against the Washington Wizards .