Hornets apologize for taking back gift of PS5 from 13-year-old fan following on-court Christmas skit

The Charlotte Hornets apologized for giving a PlayStation 5 to a 13-year-old fan in an on-court skit during Monday’s game, only to take it from him once the cameras stopped rolling.

“During (Monday) night’s game there was an on-court skit that missed the mark. The skit included bad decision making and poor communication,” the Hornets said in a statement released Tuesday. “Simply put, we turned the ball over and we apologize. We have reached out to the family and are committed to not only making it right but to exceeding expectations.”

The Hornets said they returned the PS5 to the fan and will give him a VIP experience for a future game.

The skit came in a game break during the second quarter of Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Spectrum Center. The boy joined Charlotte’s mascot, Hugo, who was dressed as Santa, on the court. In-game host Ohavia Phillips read a letter to Santa that included a request for a PS5 for Christmas as a Hornets cheerleader walked up to Hugo and gave him a gift bag. The mascot then pulled a PS5 out of the bag and gave it to the surprised boy.

However, the Hornets took the PS5 from the fan after the cameras turned off and a staffer replaced it with a jersey.

Queen City News spoke to the fan’s uncle, Alexei Phillips, who took the boy to Monday’s game. Phillips said a Hornets staffer approached them early in the game and asked if they’d like to participate in an on-court moment but provided no additional details.

Shortly before the boy stepped on the court, a staff member told Phillips that his nephew wouldn’t get to keep his gift but didn’t explain what the gift was or inform the boy that it was only a skit. Phillips said he was confused, and after his nephew left the court with the PS5, a staff member came over and confiscated the console. The boy was confused and disappointed, and cheerleaders, dancers and other team staff members standing nearby were also shocked he could not keep the item, according to Phillips.

The Hornets received heavy criticism for taking the PS5 from the young fan, prompting the team to remedy the situation and return the console.

Charlotte lost to Philadelphia 121-108 Monday night, falling to 7-19 on the season.