Spike Lee: 'I'm done' with Knicks games this season after gate fiasco
The New York Knicks have another public relations disaster on their hands.
Longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee said during ESPN's "First Take" on Tuesday that he won't attend any more games this season after an altercation with Madison Square Garden personnel regarding the entrance he used before Monday's contest against the Houston Rockets.
"Security guy ... this comes from the top, he says, 'Mr. Lee, you have to leave Madison Square Garden,'" Lee said. "They wanted me to leave The Garden ... out the 33rd Street employee entrance I came from, walk outside and come back on 31st Street ... so I said, 'I'm not leaving.'"
He added: "I put my hands behind my back, and I said, 'Arrest me like my brother Charles Oakley.'"
A portion of the exchange was captured on video, leading some to believe Lee was banned from the arena.
Director Spike Lee denied entry to MSG. Rumors are circulating that MSG CEO James Dolan didn’t want the famed director to enter. #SpikeLee #MSG pic.twitter.com/0gZVaHDXBP
— BroTalkLive (@BroTalkLivePod) March 3, 2020
"I've been coming through this entrance for 28 years," Lee said.
The Knicks released a statement shortly after Lee's televised appearance:
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.
New York Knicks Statement on Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/19JcvhFKO7
— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 3, 2020
The Academy Award-winning director was ultimately able to enter the game. However, Lee said it didn't stop there, as MSG chairman James Dolan approached him during halftime.
"(Dolan) said, 'We have to talk,'" Lee said. "I said, 'Talk about what?'
"I said, 'Mr. Dolan, I've been coming here for 28 years ... why I was not notified by email, text, phone?' He says, 'Now you know.'"
Lee estimates he spends about $300,000 per season on courtside tickets.
"I'm coming back next year, but I'm done for this season," he said. "I'm done."
The Brooklyn native added that he'll never take up fandom of the Nets in protest.
"The Barclays Center is four blocks away from my office," Lee said. "Can't do it."