It seems the Charlotte Hornets were haunted by the Ghosts of Public Relations Past, Present, and Future after their recent blunder. Let’s break this down: during Monday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Hornets orchestrated an on-court holiday skit.
It had all the makings of a feel-good moment—a child brought to the court, a heartfelt letter to Santa, and the unveiling of a shiny new PlayStation 5 courtesy of Hugo the Hornet. But when the cameras stopped rolling, the real drama began.
According to reports, the PS5 wasn’t meant to go home with the young fan. Instead, it was whisked away and replaced with a jersey, leaving the child—and the internet—less than amused. Cue the backlash.
Social media lit up faster than a Christmas tree with criticisms of the Hornets’ faux generosity. From confused cheerleaders to a baffled uncle, it seemed no one had the full playbook on this skit’s ending.
And considering the team’s $3 billion valuation following its sale last year, pretending to gift a PS5, only to pull a bait-and-switch, felt like an unnecessary fumble. After all, the retail price of a PS5 is about $500—or less if you’re savvy with Black Friday deals.
Realizing their misstep, the Hornets issued a mea culpa, calling the skit a case of “bad decision making and poor communication.” They promised to make things right by delivering the PS5 to the child along with a VIP experience at a future game.
The apology was straightforward, likening the error to “turning the ball over,” a painfully apt metaphor given the team’s performance both on and off the court.
And speaking of performance, the Hornets went on to lose 121-108 to a short-handed Sixers team that night, dropping their season record to a dismal 7-19. It’s safe to say their holiday spirit—and their win column—could use a little boost.
You guys want to see a cheap sports organization?
In this video my best friend&his nephew get called onto court for a special segment where they gift the kid a PS5 publicly… w/cameras off they TOOK IT AWAY and gave him a jersey.
😂 Take a bow @hornets… crushed the kid pic.twitter.com/mcj5hhsuM5
— USMNT_STAN (@StanUsmnt) December 17, 2024
So, while the young fan will eventually get his console and a memorable night at Spectrum Center, the Hornets have a little more work to do to win back their fans’ goodwill. Maybe next time they’ll leave the Grinch routine to Dr. Seuss.
