After being ejected from the Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors game on Saturday night, E-40 alleged racial bias from security.
E-40 nearly came to blows with security guards during the NBA Playoffs on Saturday night (April 15). While attending the Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors game, the rapper, legal name Earl Stevens, allegedly faced a group of white hecklers when a verbal altercation erupted.
In response to the near-melee, Stevens was removed from the arena, to which he published a lengthy statement about the incident.
On Saturday night, I was subjected to disrespectful heckling over the course of the Warriors-King game in Sacramento,” the Bay Area rapper wrote. “During the fourth quarter, I finally turned around and addressed one heckler in an assertive but polite manner. Yet, shortly thereafter, Kings’ security approached me, assumed that I instigated the encounter, and proceeded to kick me out of the arena.”
He continued, “Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that — despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent. Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault. I’ve attended countless NBA games throughout my lifetime and have always prided myself in my professionalism, so this experience has been jarring.”
“I was absolutely humiliated by the Kings’ security team and I’m calling on the franchise to investigate the appalling conduct that transpired.”
A number of NBA players, representatives, and fans have spoken out in support of Stevens, including retired MVP Jalen Rose.
Stevens is currently a member of the supergroup Mount Westmore, with Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Too $hort. The group released their debut project, Snoop Cube 40 $hort, in December.
