Freedom of the press was put to the test just as much as the 76ers starting five this weekend. Following the team’s loss ot he Memphis Grizzlies, an altercation broke out in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room. Center, Joel Embiid, was approached by Marcus Hayes, a reporter for The Inquirer who had recently written a column criticizing Embiid. Witnesses report that Hayes, “asked if he could apologize to Embiid.” That apology was not accepted.
The situation between Embiid and Hayes escalated, with the NBA star pushing the reporter and being separated by teammates before any more damage could be done. The whole altercation lasted for two minutes.
The critical column has been edited on The Inquirer’s website, but according to reports by NBC Los Angeles, the original piece included, “references to Embiid’s late brother and son” and criticisms over Embiid’s lack of play this season. In his first year with the 76ers, Embiid’s younger brother tragically passed away in a car accident.
Prior to the altercation, Embiid addressed the column in a press conference. He said, “When I see people saying he doesn’t want to play … I’ve been through way too much. I’ve done way too much for this city and putting myself at risk for people to be saying that, so I do think it’s bulls---. Like that dude … he’s not here — Marcus, whatever his name is. I’ve done way too much for this f---ing city to be treated like this. I’ve done way too f---ing much.”
The NBA released a statement following Embiid and Hayes’ altercation saying, “We are aware of reports of an incident in the Sixers’ locker room this evening and are commencing an investigation.”
Prior to this investigation, the NBA had fined the 76ers $100,000 for “inconsistent statements” regarding Embiid’s injury status. There have been no further updates from the league on this matter.
The editor of the Inquirer, Gabriel Escobar, also released a statement following the altercation. He backed up Hayes’s decisions and said, “Marcus is an experienced and accomplished columnist who offers sharp and illuminating commentary grounded in his observations. You are free to disagree with what he says, but a physical assault is unwarranted and untenable and we are taking this matter very seriously.”
