Truth About What Happened Between Spike Lee, Knicks
The truth about what happened between Spike Lee and the Knicks on Monday night is slowly starting to emerge. The two sides have wildly different stories.
Late Monday, a video emerged of Lee arguing with Madison Square Garden security. Rumors ran rampant that the famed film director was being banned from attending a Knicks game.
Eventually, when Lee was later spotted at the outing anyway, it was revealed that the argument was actually over which entrance Lee was using to come in. He had apparently been using the same one for many decades but was now being asked to use another.
Lee recounted what happened during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take Tuesday morning.
“I’m being harassed by James Dolan and I don’t know why.”
—Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/ca28qHYN63
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 3, 2020
“The security guy, this comes from the top, he says, ‘Mr. Lee, you have to leave Madison Square Garden,’” he said.
“They wanted me to leave the Garden, walk outside the 33rd Street employee entrance where I came from and come back on 31st street. I’m not doing that.”
Since Lee had already had his ticket scanned, he did not see why an issue existed. Furthermore, he was worried that since his ticket had already been scanned once he would not be permitted re-entry if he came in a different way.
“They’ve never said when (this policy) changed, so why not call me?” Lee said.
“When my deposit’s due — with the astronomical price of Knicks tickets — and I’m one day late, my phone is ringing off the hook.”
Lee did not stop there, though.
“I’m being harassed by James Doland I don’t know why,” he said.
Shortly after Lee’s public comments, the Knicks came out with a statement of their own.
“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance — which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden — is laughable,” the Knicks said.
“It’s disappointing that Spike would create this false controversy to perpetuate drama. He is welcome to come to The Garden anytime via the VIP or general entrance; just not through our employee entrance, which is what he and Jim agreed to last night when they shook hands.”
New York Knicks Statement on Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/19JcvhFKO7
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 3, 2020
The picture included by the Knicks in their statement does seem to confirm that the pair shook hands.
Either way, it feels like this issue is not going anywhere any time soon.
Related: Spike Lee Says Knicks Are Harassing Him, Won’t Go To More Games
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
