DL Hughley has chimed in on the controversy sparked by the Philadelphia 76ers when they denied Sevyn Streeter her shot at performing the National Anthem over the shirt she was wearing. The often outspoken comedian was asked to speak on the topic by a TMZ reporter who caught up to him at LAX airport on Thursday [October 27]. Hughley obliged, responding that he doesn't see what the problem was, with Streeter potentially appearing on the court with "We Matter" written across her chest.
"I guess matter is more offensive ... I guess the word 'matter' is the new, is the new n***er," he said. He then posed that it isn't the language, but society's unwillingness to have a discussion on what is going on in America today. "It's that people are that hypersensitive, that they are that afraid to be caught up in a political movement," he said.
Streeter made waves on Wednesday when she took to Instagram with a video in which she explained having been blocked from moving forward with the performance. The recording she posted reveals her in the very black jersey she attempted to sing the anthem in. News of the incident quickly spread throughout social media, and would reportedly draw criticism from anonymous players on the 76ers team.
On Friday the organization put out a statement apologizing for its decision, writing, "After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing. We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back.”
Source: youtube.com
