SingerSevyn Streeter was ecstatic about the opportunity to sing at the 76ers home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. She urged fans on Twitter before the game to comesee her perform.
But she ended up not performing at all, after she was told her outfit was inappropriate by the 76ers organization.
“I’m at the 76ers game to sing the national anthem,” the 30-year-old singer says in avideo which has since been retweeted more than 13,000 times.
“The org is telling me that Ican’t,because I’m wearing a ‘We Matter’ shirt,”she said.
The video ends withthe reaction ofsomeone off-camera: “Whaaaaat?”
Philly #Streetteam who’s coming to the @Sixers game tonight? If you are come sit with me courtside! #sixers #MadeInPHILA
See details below! pic.twitter.com/A8bQaiJmxX— Sevyn (@sevyn) October 26, 2016
Was suppose to sing the anthem at @sixers & @okcthunder game but mins b4 @sixers said I couldn’t because I was wearing a “We Matter” jersey pic.twitter.com/wjoJN3rq0r
— Sevyn (@sevyn) October 27, 2016
so… @Sixers wont let @sevyn perform the national anthem because she has a “We Matter” shirt on? ? answers are needed ?
— Nellium (@_cornbread_) October 27, 2016
A Sixers dancer sang the anthem in Sevyn’s place.
But the chaos wasn’t over.
Rapper Desiigner was allowed to perform during the half-time show at the game, but he got booed off the stage after the audience realized he was just lip-syncing.
Desiigner gettin booed in Philly ? pic.twitter.com/6usxAFbf34
— Air Max Robin (@MaximRobin) October 27, 2016
Desiigner (spelling clearly inspired by Embiid) was lip-syncing his incoherent Panda lyrics @ halftime & got booed off floor. The Philly way pic.twitter.com/YjplKq1wEq
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) October 27, 2016
Desiigner’s getting booed off the court. This is the best Sixers crowd since AI retired.
— Matt Carey (@RealMattCarey) October 27, 2016
I’ll have what Desiigner’s having pic.twitter.com/vygm4dDNEn
— Zen Simmons (@God_ZRILL_a) October 27, 2016
Think that’s all? Just wait.
Sixers point guard Russell Westbrook overall had an impressive season debut and is considered an NBA MVP candidate.
That didn’t stop a fan from flipping the double bird right in his face during the first quarter.
Welcome to Philly?
Westbrook frowned and calmly pointed the strangely angry fan out to teammates.
They can be seen responding to the fan with what appear to be fighting words on Westbrook’s behalf. The man was later ejected from the game.
And Russell Westbrook gets a Philly middle finger Welcome #nba https://t.co/cojimK5PsP
— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) October 27, 2016
It appears the fan that threw the double middle fingers at Westbrook is being escorted out of the arena.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) October 27, 2016
The craziest part of the night? For a little while, the Sixers were winning. Of course, they ultimately fell to the Thunder, 103-97.
As for Sevyn Streeter’s ejection for her shirt?
The Sixers released the following vague statement, which does not acknowledge that they banned the singer from performing over her shirt, or apologize for it.
“The Philadelphia 76ers organization encourages meaningful actions to drive social change,” the team said in a statement. “We use our games to bring people together, to build trust and to strengthen our communities. As we move from symbolic gestures to action, we will continue to leverage our platform to positively impact our community.”
