Jan 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony (7) reacts with fans during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers fan who was ejected from game after verbal altercation with Carmelo Anthony claims he did not use a racial slur.
During the Jan. 27 game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers went viral due to an altercation between Carmelo Anthony and a fan. Anthony was incensed with a Sixers fan sitting courtside and was ejected. A report from Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes revealed that the fan in question called Anthony “boy,” which carries racial connotations.
24 hours after the incident, the fan, Mike Murphy, called into local radio station 914 WIP on Friday, where he claimed that his comments were not racist.
“He comes down the court,” Murphy said, via Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “We’re blowing [them] out in the game. I say to him, ‘You’re a little boy. Let him shoot. Let him shoot.’ He looked at me. He smiles. I think he goes down to the other end of the court. He comes back down … and I say, ‘Let him shoot. He’s a little boy.’ And he lost his cool out of nowhere.”
76ers fan claims he did not use racial slur towards Carmelo Anthony
A 76ers spokesperson reached out to multiple news outlets on Friday, saying that Murphy is banned indefinitely from the team’s games and future events at Wells Fargo Center as a result of his comments. Additionally, a second fan was banned for the remainder of the 76ers season.
Philadelphia 76ers spokesperson confirmed to @YahooSports that following investigation, fan who made disparaging remarks toward Carmelo Anthony is banned indefinitely from all future Sixers games and events at Wells Fargo Center. Second fan suspended for remainder of season.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 29, 2022
After the game, Anthony confirmed to reporters that he was called “boy” by the fan. He also commented on the altercation, which can be viewed below, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“Some things were said,” Anthony said, via ESPN. “Unacceptable. I’m cool with fans heckling, fans talking trash, cheering for their team, booing the other team, I’m all for that. But when you cross certain lines, as a man, you just, that’s what you’re going to see. That’s what you’re going to get, as you saw there.”
As a result of the comments made during the altercation, Murphy is now banned from the Wells Fargo Center indefinitely.