UPDATED 2/2, 4:15 p.m. ET: Juliana Carlos, one of the two fans in question, took to Instagram to issue an apology and explanation, opening with, "To say things escalated quickly at yesterday's game is an understatement, and I want to apologize for losing my cool and removing my mask in the heat of the moment.” She said she takes “full responsibility” and that what “should have been quick back-and-forth between two adults got out of hand and my natural instinct to stand up for the man I love kicked in.”
Carlos also implored observers to “be real; sports wouldn't be sports without a little trash-talking.” Here's her full IG statement:
See original story below.
During Monday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks, LeBron James got into an exchange with some fans at State Farm Arena.
The heckling went down during the fourth quarter.
One of the people forced to leave the game took to Instagram to talk about it all. "Just got kicked out of the game for talking shit to LeBron James for talking shit to my fucking husband," said Juliana Carlos. "This is such fucking bullshit."
Carlos claimed LeBron made a rude comment to her husband. "And, I go, 'Don't fucking talk to my husband.' And he looks at me and he goes, 'Sit the fuck down, bitch.' And I go, 'Don't fucking call me a bitch. You sit the fuck down. ... Don't fucking talk to my husband like that.'"
Unfortunately for Carlos, the Athletic reviewed footage and verified the only thing LeBron was taped saying was "ol’ steroid ass."
James also addressed the incident and said that he thought the fans shouldn't have been ejected. "Nah, at the end of the day, I'm happy fans are back in the building," James said. "I don't' feel like it was warranted to be kicked out."
The woman who posted her side of the story to IG was dubbed "Courtside Karen" on social media.
LeBron, presumably after watching video of the woman on IG, took to Twitter to use the nickname, writing, "Courtside Karen was MAD MAD!!"
The Lakers ended up winning against the Hawks with a final score of 107-99.
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