NBA Shuts Down Hawks’ Strip Club Tribute Night After League Backlash

The NBA has blocked the Atlanta Hawks from hosting a planned tribute night honoring Magic City strip club after facing criticism from players, fans and league stakeholders. The controversial promotion was set to feature the club's famous lemon pepper wings and themed merchandise during Monday's game against Orlando.

The NBA has blocked the Atlanta Hawks from moving forward with their controversial tribute night honoring Magic City, a well-known Atlanta strip club, after facing pushback from multiple sources within the league.

The Hawks revealed their promotional plans last month, describing their intention to honor what they called a significant “iconic cultural institution” through special menu items – including the venue’s signature lemon pepper wings that bear the name of former Hawks player Lou Williams – along with themed music and special merchandise.

The promotional event drew divided reactions from the public, with supporters and critics voicing strong opinions on both sides. San Antonio Spurs player Luke Kornet publicly criticized the strip club promotion and called on those involved to abandon the plan.

League officials apparently received similar feedback from numerous other sources.

“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.

“I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.”

Hawks representatives did not immediately respond with a statement. The themed event had been planned for Monday’s matchup against the Orlando Magic.

The team has established connections to the entertainment venue. Team principal owner Jami Gertz served as a producer on a documentary series examining the club’s background, its significance within Black and hip-hop communities, and its role in Atlanta’s identity.

“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,'” Gertz, who works as both a filmmaker and actor, said when announcing the original promotion. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made such an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”

The Hawks had also planned to record a Magic City-themed podcast with fans who arrived early to the game.