In March of this year, a Utah Jazz NBA fan was banned for life from the Vivian Smart Arena after allegedly saying ‘racial’ and ‘inappropriate’ remarks towards Russell Westbrook.
Now the fan, who was later identified as Shane Keisel, and his girlfriend Jennifer Huff is seeking to sue both Russell Westbrook and the Utah Jazz for $100 million dollars.
The couple says that the sports team and Westbrook are responsible for defamation and infliction of emotional distress.
Bleacher Reports Reported:
Keisel’s ban from Vivint Smart Home Arena came after Westbrook—then a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder—said Keisel made a racially insensitive remark, telling him to “get down on your knees like you used to.”
Keisel has disputed Westbrook’s allegation and said he instead told Westbrook to “wrap his knees to be better able to play later on in the game.”
Following the incident, Keisel said a campaign from Westbrook’s fans got him fired from his job with Brent Brown Toyota and terminated from a pilot training program with SkyWest Airlines.
Keisel also said “members of his family were harassed, and that he had to alter his driving routes, stop using his first name and install new locks and security cameras at his home.”
In response to the lawsuit, Senior Vice President of Communications for Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment Frank Zang said the following: “The organization investigated the underlying incident and acted in an appropriate and responsible manner. We intend to vigorously defend [against] the lawsuit.”
The incident, which occurred March 11, was not Westbrook’s first run-in with a Jazz fan.
Prior to Game 4 of a 2018 playoff series between the Thunder and Jazz, a fan referred to Westbrook as “boy,” and that fan was subsequently banned for life as well.
After Game 6 of that same series, Westbrook slapped the hand of a fan using a cellphone camera to take video of him and seemed to tell another fan who was yelling at him to “back the f–k up.”
Per Wood and Larsen, both NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, as well as other Jazz players, were supportive of the decision to ban Keisel from Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Here is a video of Russel Westbrook speaking about the situation below:
How do y’all feel about this situation? Do you think he could win this case or do you think he don’t have a chance? Let us know in the comments.
And now you’re officially in the KNOW!
