NBA Star Luke Kornet Calls for Atlanta Hawks to Cancel Strip Club Theme Night
San Antonio Spurs centre Luke Kornet has publicly condemned the Atlanta Hawks' decision to collaborate with an adult entertainment club, urging the team to cancel the controversial promotion. The Hawks announced the promotion last week, detailing plans for a live performance by Atlanta native T.I., alongside the sale of two versions of Magic City's renowned chicken wings and a special hoodie.
Kornet's Strong Opposition to the Event
Writing on Monday, Kornet expressed his dismay, stating that he and other players were taken aback by the move. He argued that allowing the March 16 event, scheduled during the Hawks' game against the Orlando Magic, "would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society."
He further elaborated in a blog post, adding: "Regardless of how a woman finds her way into the adult entertainment industry, many in this space experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected." Kornet highlighted that the team's press release "failed to acknowledge that this place is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’"
Call for a Family-Friendly Environment
Kornet concluded by directly asking the Hawks to cancel the promotion. "We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience," he wrote. "The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision."
In contrast, the Hawks' press release featured a statement from Jami Gertz, who said: "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’. The iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture."
The event has sparked significant debate within the NBA community, with Kornet's stance emphasizing ethical concerns over commercial partnerships. The Hawks have yet to respond publicly to his call for cancellation, leaving fans and observers awaiting further developments.
