Nov 13, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling (left) and wife Shelly Sterling attend the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Thunder 111-103. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Clippers “owner” Donald Sterling was recorded making racist comments about minorities in a tape released over the weekend. Fallout was quick with several companies pulling their sponsorship of the Clippers basketball team. It also turns out that gifts that Sterling has offered are being rejected by their recipients, just as the UCLA did today.
Virgin America, KIA, State Farm, CarMax pull sponsorship from Clippers in wake of racist comments http://t.co/AkAk9SmJKV
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) April 29, 2014
UCLA has announced it has returned $425,000 initial payment of a $3 million pledge from Donald Sterling in support of kidney research.
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) April 29, 2014
UCLA Newsroom had released this statement in regards to the payment.
"Mr. Sterling’s divisive and hurtful comments demonstrate that he does not share UCLA’s core values as a public university that fosters diversity, inclusion and respect. For those reasons, UCLA has decided to return Mr. Sterling’s initial payment of $425,000 and reject the remainder of a $3 million pledge he recently made to support basic kidney research by the UCLA Division of Nephrology.”"
There was also an ad in Los Angeles Times on Sunday that had UCLA “thank” Sterling for the gift.
UCLA: Advertisement in Sunday LA Times "falsely suggesting it was UCLA publicly thanking him for the gift." Sterling actually placed the ad.
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) April 29, 2014
Because of his comments, the NBA has placed a lifetime ban on Sterling and will force the sale of the Clippers.
Mike W.R.
Twitter: @TheBigDisco