Spike Lee was restrained by staff at Yankee Stadium Wednesday (September 30) after a confrontation with a fan who reportedly filmed him while he was eating and questioned him about Palestine.
Fox Sports reporter Andy Slater shared video of the incident on social media, writing that Lee “has to be held back from going after a fan” while dining before the Yankees hosted the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of their wild-card series.
“The fan was filming Spike eating and asked him how he felt about Palestine, according to people closer to them at the table,” Slater wrote.
The video shows Lee in a red Yankees outfit being held back by people near his table. Lee can be heard asking, “Why’d you come over to me?” A man in a blue checkered jacket is also seen telling someone, “You’ve gotta go. You’ve gotta go.”
According to Complex, the interaction escalated when a person who approached Lee for a selfie allegedly asked him to say, “F**k Palestine.” Complex reported that Lee then got up and looked for security. Security reportedly removed the person from the area.
Before the confrontation, Lee had reportedly been posing for photos and interacting with fans in the dining area.
The incident comes months after Lee publicly addressed his support for Palestinians during NBA All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. The New Arab reported that Lee wore clothing featuring keffiyeh-inspired designs and carried a bag with Palestinian flag imagery during the February event.
In an Instagram post on February 17, Lee said the clothing represented his concern for Palestinian children and civilians and his belief in “human dignity for all humankind.” He also clarified that his clothing was not intended to be hostile toward Jewish people or to support violence against anyone.
Lee attended the Yankees’ Game 1 matchup against Boston on Tuesday (September 29) with his daughter, Satchel. His representatives and the Yankees did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to Complex.
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