Charlotte Hornets Blasted For Taking Back Sony PS5 From Child Off Camera
The NBA‘s Charlotte Hornets organization is currently under fire for gifting a child with a Sony PS5 on camera, only to reneg on the gesture and attempt to take back the gaming console.
The incident in question occurred on Monday (Dec. 16), during the Hornets’ home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. At one point during the game, a man and his nephew were invited onto the court, under the expectation that the child would recieve a gift.
The fan would receive a free Sony PS5, a moment which was captured by cameras filming the segment. However, shortly after the segment, the gaming console was retrieved from the child, who was instead given a free Charlotte Hornets jersey as a consolation.
Sony PlayStation 5 Pro (L) and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (R) video game consoles are displayed during the Tokyo Game Show 2024 at Makuhari Messe on September 26, 2024 in Chiba, Japan. The gaming exhibition is one of the world’s largest and will be held through September 29th.
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The organization was blasted by fans after a social media post critiquing the seemingly “cheap” move quickly went viral.
“You guys want to see a cheap sports organization,” began an X post, said to be written by a friend of the fan and child in question. “In this video my best friend&his nephew get called onto court for a special segment where they gift the kid a PS5 publicly… w/cameras off they TOOK IT AWAY and gave him a jersey.”
According to the post, the child in question was “crushed” after having the gaming console taken away from him, resulting in a public outcry against the Hornets. Some demanding the child should be given back the PS5, which the Hornets agreed to do while issuing a public apology for the PR snafu.
The Charlotte Bobcats unveil the new logo for next years team name change during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on December 21, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
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“During last night’s game, there was an on-court skit that missed the mark. The skit included bad decision making and poor communication. Simply put, we turned the ball over and we apologize. We have reached out to the family and are committed to not only making it right but to exceeding expectations.
We will be providing the fan with the PS5 that he should have taken home last night along with a VIP experience to a future game. Our goal is and will remain to elevate the guest experience for every person that enters Spectrum Center, and to show our fans how much we appreciate their relentless support,” the statement said.
A detailed view of the original logo of the Charlotte Hornets on display on the court ahead of opening night against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center on October 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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