A celebrity basketball tournament planned for West Side High School in Newark, New Jersey, has been abruptly canceled following community outrage over its provocative theme and promotional material. The event, titled “Nuttin But Azz Celebrity Baddies Basketball,” was scheduled for July 21 but drew swift condemnation after a promotional video featuring scantily clad women in the school’s gymnasium circulated on social media.
Nancy Deering, spokesperson for Newark Public Schools, stated that the event was initially presented as a community basketball event sponsored by a local politician. However, she emphasized that no school or district official had approved or been aware of the risqué activities depicted in the promotional video.
The tournament’s organizer, celebrity music manager Big Fendi, issued a public apology to the school’s principal and the councilman who had initially supported the event. In his statement, Big Fendi took full responsibility for the controversial content, acknowledging that the promotional activities had gone “a little left and out of control” without the knowledge of school officials.
The canceled event, which promised a $10,000 prize to the winning team and charged admission fees ranging from $50 to $500, has raised questions about the vetting process for community events held in school facilities. Big Fendi also extended apologies to parents and students who may have been affected by the footage.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the tournament will be rescheduled at a different venue. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the appropriateness of certain events in educational settings and the responsibility of organizers to align with community standards.
TMZ
