An upcoming local NBA event in Atlanta is starting to turn into a national debate after a player for the San Antonio Spurs called on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel their collaboration with a strip club.
The Hawks announced they are partnering with Magic City for what is being billed as “Magic City Monday,” a celebration of a cultural institution during the team’s game against the Orlando Magic on March 16.
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Spurs center Luke Kornet posted a blog on Medium on Monday, March 2, saying the Hawks neglected to mention Magic City was a strip club in their news release. Kornet said he and other NBA players were surprised the Hawks would promote an event with an adult entertainment club, saying it “would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
“Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry,” Kornet wrote, “many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected. … We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners that we know and love.”
NBA champion Al Horford, now with the Golden State Warriors, made it clear to his 350,000 followers where he stands.
The Hawks announced the promotion last week, saying it would include a live performance by Atlanta native T.I., and have two versions of Magic City’s famed chicken wings, along with a special hoodie available for purchase. The event will also include a live taping of the Hawks AF podcast discussing a recent Starz documentary about the club.
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“This collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work that we did to put together ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,’ ” Jami Gertz, producer of the documentary and part-owner of the Hawks, said in the release. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”
A spokesperson for the Hawks declined to comment on Kornet’s remarks, according to the Associated Press.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Spurs’ Luke Kornet slams idea of Atlanta Hawks strip club deal