E-40, center, watches throughout an NBA basketball recreation between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco, Dec. 30, 2022. The Sacramento Kings are investigating allegations from the rapper E-40 that “racial bias” led to him being kicked out of his seat throughout a playoff recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.

Jeff Chiu/AP

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Jeff Chiu/AP

E-40, center, watches throughout an NBA basketball recreation between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco, Dec. 30, 2022. The Sacramento Kings are investigating allegations from the rapper E-40 that “racial bias” led to him being kicked out of his seat throughout a playoff recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.

Jeff Chiu/AP

The Sacramento Kings say they’re investigating an incident wherein the rapper E-40 was ejected from their enviornment throughout Saturday’s playoff recreation in opposition to the Golden State Warriors, an incident he says was the results of “racial bias.”

The rapper, born Earl Stevens, Jr., stated in an announcement to NPR that he was subjected to “disrespectful heckling” throughout Saturday’s playoff recreation and addressed one heckler in an “assertive but polite” method earlier than being ordered to depart the Golden 1 Center enviornment by safety guards.

“Unfortunately, it was yet another reminder that — despite my success and accolades as a musician and entrepreneur — racial bias remains prevalent,” the rapper stated in an announcement.

“Security saw a disagreement between a Black man and a white woman and immediately assumed that I was at fault,” he added.

The actual trigger for the rapper’s removing from the world remains to be unclear, and the Kings say they’re investigating why he was ejected.

“The Sacramento Kings take these claims seriously and are investigating the facts and circumstances regarding the situation, as we do anytime an accusation like this is made,” the crew stated in an announcement.

The 55-year-old rapper stated that whereas he is attended numerous NBA video games all through his lifetime and has at all times prided himself on professionalism, Saturday’s expertise was “jarring.”

“I was absolutely humiliated by the Kings’ security team and I’m calling on the franchise to investigate the appalling conduct that transpired,” the rapper stated.

Stevens, a Bay Area native, is a distinguished Golden State Warriors fan and was a part of the crew’s delegation that visited the White House earlier this year.

“It’s unfortunate. I love 40. He’s been our biggest supporter for years,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson told reporters Sunday.

“I hope they right that ship because he deserves to be there by our bench. In my time knowing him, he’s always been respectful. He’s always been considerate of those around him. Very weird to see, and I hope it’s resolved,” he added.