“You wanna arrest me like Charles Oakley?!”: When $60 million worth Spike Lee told Knicks security guards to not harass him like their legend

Spike Lee is a long-time fan of the New York Knicks. He is quite famous among basketball fans for frequently attending Knicks games at Madison Square Garden and has been seen courtside at many of the team’s home games. However, in 2020, Lee was involved in a controversy with the team over his preferred entrance to the arena.

Before being a Knick, Lee is a filmmaker and director. And quite a big one at that. His impact on American cinema is one of a kind. Even more so on the New Yorkers. He has directed several films, many of which have been critically acclaimed, and he is also a frequent presence at the annual New York Film Festival.

So, he is sort of a cultural icon in probably one of the greatest cities on the planet. But that did not stop the security at Madison Square Garden, to disrespect him in the worst way possible.

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When Spike Lee got disrespected at MSG

Back in 2020, when Knicks were still bottom dwellers in the league and had nothing to show for on any given night. Not at least in the month when this incident took place.

It was the 2nd of March and it was pretty clear that there was no way for them to qualify for the playoffs by the end of the season even though it was months away.

It was then when the Academy Award-winning Director got into a scuffle with security at MSG for not letting him enter through an entrance through which he used to pass for more than 28 years.

He talked about it at the time his displeasure on ESPN’s First Take.

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Knicks responded to Lee in a very non-apologetic way

Spike has been one of the Knicks’ biggest fans of all time for more than a quarter of a century through all the thicks and thicks. That was intentional. And even if he was being overly animated with his reaction to a request, they should have calmed him down and then let him talk.

But instead, they first did whatever they wanted to.

“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. 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,” the Knicks said in a statement.

They even gave similar treatment or even worse to Club legend, Charles Oakley.

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