A few weeks ago TMZ released a report that the Atlanta Hawks were getting sued by their former security manager, Sam Hayes for treating black celebrities like criminals while white celebrities were getting VIP treatment.
He pointed that out and was fired. There were accounts of Drake and Future asking to bypass metal detectors and they were denied. While AC/DC asked for the same thing and theirs were granted. That pattern continued to persist as acts like Kanye West, 2 Chainz, The Dream and Tyler Perry were denied but Adele, Ariana Grande, Bon Jovi and Amy Schumer were granted that.
Then, it really escalated when a black security officer told a white member of Radiohead’s crew he had to walk through a metal detector and the crew member responded by dropping his pants. One of his white crew members intervened and allowed him to go.
Hayes says he went to management and was told, “Hip hop acts draw a different crowd and the white acts bring in more money.”
The Hawks denied these allegations but now more employees are coming out.
SB Nation reports Jeremy Carr who is a 21-year-old security staffer for the Hawks said, white celebrities and entertainers have been granted security concessions at Philips Arena while black celebrities haven’t.
One of Carr’s responsibilities was to man the door at the media entrance, which varies and here’s what he said,
I have seen white entertainers and celebrities access the Arena through the media entrance, but I have never seen black entertainers and celebrities access the Arena through the media entrance,
Carr also alleges two of his bosses who are white told him to let white entertainers through media entrance and they didn’t have to be searched.
Based on what I witnessed, it seemed that management was willing to bend security policy and procedure for white entertainers and celebrities, but not for black entertainers and celebrities
Let’s see what the Hawks say after another employee confirmed what’s been happening.