Wizards issue apology for scripted April Fools’ halftime prank
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The Washington Wizards on Thursday apologized for a halftime prank that made it appear a fan had been duped into thinking he won $10,000 with a half-court shot during the team’s home game one night earlier.
In a statement, the franchise acknowledged the April 1 stunt was fully scripted, saying it “missed the mark” despite involving only staff members who were aware of the gag. “All participants were in on the joke, but we missed the mark,” the team said.
The bit unfolded during a timeout of Wednesday’s 153-131 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Wizards’ fourth straight defeat and their 20th in 21 games. A supposed fan, blindfolded at half-court, heaved the ball far over the backboard. Mascots then swarmed him in celebration and presented an oversized $10,000 check before video of the errant shot was shown on the arena scoreboard.
“I’m not going to lie, sir: I really, really hate April Fools’ Day,” the on-court emcee told the participant after revealing the miss.
Social media backlash followed almost immediately, with users criticizing the organization for appearing to mislead a paying customer during a season in which Washington owns the NBA’s worst record and is headed for a fifth consecutive year without a playoff berth.
“Our fans are our priority, and we continue to be committed to providing a positive experience to all who attend our games,” the team said while reiterating its regret for the prank.
Source: ESPN
