Melbourne NBA star Ben Simmons hits back after being refused entry at Crown
NBA star Ben Simmons has said he felt “singled out” when he and his entourage were refused entry to Crown on Monday night. But the casino has “strenuously” rejected suggestions of “racial profiling” while an insider claimed it was “all about entitlement”.
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Australia’s highest-paid athlete has slammed claims he was denied entry to Melbourne’s Crown casino on Monday night for breaching the gaming venue’s dress code.
NBA basketballer Ben Simmons, 23, told his 4.3 million Instagram followers he was asked for ID when he tried to enter the gaming floor at the casino with three of his friends before allegedly being turned away.
Simmons, Melbourne’s $242 million basketball sensation, insisted Crown security guards were guilty of racial discrimination by refusing them entry to the gaming floor.
On Tuesday night, he escalated his war of words with Crown casino, saying: “My friends and I felt personally singled out, no one likes to feel like this.
“I am very passionate about equality and I will always speak up, even if it means having uncomfortable conversations.”
A source close to the incident said the security guard at the centre of the apparent misunderstanding, who is of Middle Eastern background, was merely seeking confirmation of the IDs of the members of the entourage.
It prompted upset in some members of the party, the source said.
Social media users have slammed the Melbourne casino, claiming “racist bouncers” were to blame for the incident.
But Crown also stood its ground last night, rejecting Simmons’ version of events.
And a casino insider said he was refused entry after refusing to show ID. The source said the bouncer who barred Simmons was of foreign heritage and had dark skin, and was offended to be labelled a racist by Simmons and his entourage.
“He was told he was a racist — it’s unfair. When you get down to it, it was all about entitlement — ‘You should know who I am.’”
Another source told the Herald Sun last night there were five in Simmons’ party.
When they approached the entrance, where two security guards stood, three of the group were asked for ID.
“The security guards asked three of the party to present ID, including Ben Simmons,” the source said. “Two weren’t asked because they looked a little bit older.
“When they were asked for ID, they started carrying on like idiots. He (Ben) swore a couple of times, walked off and walked around to another entry.”
Simmons has denied claims the group refused to hand over identification when asked.
GAZE PRAISES SIMMONS’ ‘COURAGE’
Basketball legend Andrew Gaze told the Herald Sun yesterday afternoon if what Simmons had reported was accurate, he was to be commended.
“If it is correct, I say well done Ben for having the courage to speak out,” he said. “Clearly we need more information to see what has transpired.
“I have great concerns if we are racially profiling, that is something we stand against as a community and a nation.
“It doesn’t matter how much you are paid, anyone that is confronting a situation with racial undertones, more power to him to speak out against it.”
Mr Gaze said Simmons was “huge” in the NBA and there were “enormous expectations” on him.
“His first two years in the NBA have been exceptional. He has a very bright future.”
In a now-deleted video that Simmons posted on Instagram Monday night, the Philadelphia 76er suggested he and his black friends were turned away because of their skin colour, while one friend, Alex Subers, wasn’t checked, also because of his skin colour.
“I find it so crazy that the only guy who doesn’t get checked to go into the casino is this guy,” the Philadelphia 76ers star said in the video.
“I get checked, Mike gets checked and Tys gets checked.
“Thank you Crown casino, damn, and they didn’t let me in, or him or this guy. Wow, we got a long way to go.”
There were suggestions on social media that he was in breach of Crown’s dress code, which includes a ban on “camouflage clothing” and “active sporting attire”.
Simmons was clad in trendy Nike camouflage-print trackpants, but revealed that Subers — who was allowed entry — also wore a similar outfit.
My friend who got let in also had camouflage pants on ..
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) August 5, 2019
The video was shot near Crown’s food court, where Simmons stopped for a photo with a fan.
In a statement, Crown casino said it “strenuously rejects” reports that it discriminated against a group of visitors on Monday night.
“Crown’s internal security policy requires our security officers to check identification of those persons they believe to be under the age of 25,” the statement said.
“This is an enhanced safeguard to ensure that no one under the age of 18 is permitted entry to the casino floor as required by law.
“The group subsequently provided identification and were permitted entry. Crown is an inclusive workplace.”
The incident has spread to the US and made headlines, with Sports Illustrated, TMZ and other news outlets reporting Simmons was denied entry due to racial profiling.
SIMMONS’ HIGH-FLYING HOMETOWN VISIT
It comes after the NBA superstar last week walked the red carpet in support of AFL legend Adam Goodes, at the premiere of The Australian Dream documentary.
Simmons is an executive producer for the film, and plans to take it to American audiences.
He was also spotted in a corporate box with model Talia Richman at the weekend’s Essendon AFL game.
The 2018 Rookie of the Year recently signed a contract extension worth $US170 million ($A242 million) to stay at Philadelphia, the richest sporting contract ever signed by an Australian athlete.
But Simmons left fans dismayed when he pulled out of Australia’s exhibition matches against the USA and Canada, after indicating he was available to play in Perth and Melbourne this month.
“I want to thank Basketball Australia for their continued support and I’m committed and excited to compete in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo,” he said at the time.
MORE NEWS: SIMMONS SHAKES OFF FURORE TO BRING SMILES
During a charity visit, Simmons yesterday brushed aside questions about the Crown controversy.
But he told the Herald Sun he was thrilled to be home in Melbourne despite the controversy.
“I love being here, I love being here,’’ he said. “It’s always good to be back.
“It’s the longest I’ve been back in definitely a few years and I love being back to see my family and friends. “And just being in Melbourne.’’
Crown was forced to launch an advertising blitz to downplay claims of money laundering and organised crime links which engulfed the casino last month.
The federal government ordered a powerful inquiry after the casino was engulfed in a storm over its use of junket operators to bring Chinese high-rollers to Australia, with reports of money laundering, fast-tracked visas and sex trafficking.
HOW THE DRAMA UNFOLDED
MONDAY, AUGUST 5
7.38pm: Simmons posts Instagram story claiming to have been denied entry to Crown casino. He infers that he was turned away because of his skin colour, while one friend wasn’t checked, also because of the colour of his skin.
Approx 8pm: Diovi A. Curyani posts a photo with Simmons in the Crown food court on Instagram.
8.58pm: Nick Battersby posts a video of the now-deleted Instagram story to Twitter.
8.59pm: Nicole Koumpis posts photograph with Simmons in the Crown food court to Twitter.
10pm: The Herald Sun breaks the story online.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6
Approx 7am: Comments are made on social media sites pointing out that Simmons was wearing camouflage pants and that it is a breach of Crown’s dress code. That is not believed to be the reason for the incident.
8.16am: Simmons replies to a tweet: “My friend who got let in also had camouflage pants on”.
8.24am: Simmons replies to another tweet claiming he refused to show ID with: “Wrong again mate”.
9.56am: Crown casino releases a statement on the incident, rejecting Simmons’ claims and saying it is an inclusive workplace. Crown says the group was permitted entry after they provided identification.
2pm: Simmons surprises a 12-year-old fan who has cancer at Carey Baptist Grammar School in Kew by dropping in to shoot hoops with him.
Approx 4pm: A source tells the Herald Sun the security guard at the centre of the incident, who is of Middle Eastern background, was seeking confirmation of the IDs of the members of the entourage. It prompted upset from some members of the party, the source said.
Approx 4.30pm: Simmons visits Punt Rd Oval
5.27pm: Simmons tweets a statement, saying he felt singled out by Crown security guards.
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