An NBA player has called for the Atlanta Hawks to cancel the events of its upcoming “Magic City Monday” game.
The Hawks caused an uproar after announcing the uniquely-themed game against the Orlando Magic, which pays homage to the famed “Magic City” strip club, known for its entertainment and its “Lou Will” lemon pepper wings, named after Atlanta native and former Hawks player, Lou Williams.
Not everyone is a fan. Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs has called out the idea, and has encouraged the Hawks to “respectfully” stop the Magic City madness.
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many
of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love,” Kornet wrote in a Medium blog post.Kornet, a white player from Kentucky, believes the promotion of strip club culture also does not align with the values of the professional sports league.
“Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society,” he wrote. “Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected.
He continued, “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. The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
He asked others to join in his petition the Atlanta Hawks against moving forward with “Magic City Night.”
The team has put out all
the stops for the March 16 event, including specialty merchandise and a performance by homegrown rapper T.I. The event has also caused a frenzy across the city, with ticket sales skyrocketing after the announcement.While Kornet encouraged the Hawks to take a step back from affiliating themselves with the strip club, city residents seem to have different thoughts on the matter. Many view Magic City as an integral part of the city’s social scene and nightlife. The issue may also be a cultural divide as well, especially with Atlanta’s status as a diverse city that pioneered trap music, a sub-genre of hip-hop.
The Hawks are ready to unleash its inaugural game paying tribute to this polarizing piece of Atlanta culture.
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