A celebrity basketball tournament set to take place at West Side High School in Newark has been abruptly canceled after a promotional video featuring scantily clad women twerking in thongs on the court sparked outrage among school board members and the community.
The tournament, dubbed “Nuttin’ But Azz” (NBA), was scheduled for July 21 and promoted by music executive Big Fendi, known for working with artists like Nicki Minaj. Tickets for the event ranged from $50 to $500, promising a high-profile spectacle with a $10,000 prize for the winning team.
Read: Judge Judy Rips DA Bragg For Trump Trial ‘Nonsense’ Instead Of Keeping Criminals ‘Off The Street
However, the event took a controversial turn when a promotional video surfaced online, showcasing women dancing provocatively in thongs within the school’s gymnasium. The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread condemnation for its inappropriate nature and exploitation of women.
See the video here: https://twitter.com/tampafreepress/status/1804503997497192583
School officials, who claim to have been unaware of the video’s content and the true nature of the event, were swift to denounce the tournament and cancel its permit. Nancy Deering, the school board communications director, stated that West Side High School never sanctioned such a game and would never allow an event that objectifies women to take place on its premises.
Read: Known Illegal Border Crossings Surpass 10 Million Since Fiscal 2021: CBP
Newark Public Schools spokeswoman Nancy Deering said in a statement, “No school or district official was aware of the video until it was posted on social media. This was supposed to be a community basketball event sponsored by Councilman Kelly. No school or district official approved the activity depicted in the video or knew that an event at one of our schools would include such activity.”
Big Fendi, who organized the event, has since apologized for the promotional video and the controversy it caused. In an Instagram video, he took full responsibility for the incident, acknowledging that the organizers misled school officials about the nature of the event.
He expressed his apologies to the city, the high school, Councilman Dupré Kelly, who helped secure the venue, and parents and students who were offended by the video.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.