The Hawks said that while they were “very disappointed” by the cancellation, they “fully respect” the league’s decision.
“As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta – with authenticity – in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together,” a statement on social media said.
The Hawks also said the game against the Orlando Magic will still include T.I.’s halftime performance and the “full array of award-winning culinary options,” including Magic City’s famed wings.
Despite praise in some corners, the “Magic City Monday” event had drawn criticism from NBA players including [San Antonio Spurs centre Luke Kornet](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/luke-kornet-wants-strip-club-promotion-cancelled), who expressed his discomfort with the league being associated with such an event.
In a blog post on Medium, the nine-year NBA veteran asked the Hawks to abandon their plans for the theme night, saying it reflected poorly on the league and its players.
“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world,” Kornet wrote. “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners that we know and love.”
That led to former ESPN host Michelle Beadle [accusing Kornet of parading as a “white knight”](https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/michelle-beadle-white-knight-luke-kornet-hawks-magic-city) in defence of women, even though the promotional event was spearheaded by _The Lost Boys_ actress Jami Gertz, who is also a principal owner of the Hawks.
Gertz produced the docuseries _Magic City: An American Fantasy_, which explored the establishment’s history and its place in hip-hop and Black culture.
Part of that history includes a viral incident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Hawks guard Lou Williams violated the league’s protocols by visiting the strip club. The former Toronto Raptor said at the time that he only went there to get some of their “world-famous wings.”
“We don’t need this,” Beadle said on a recent episode of the _Beadle & Decker_ podcast. “I’ve had enough of men telling us what we can and shouldn’t (do) and what we should want and what we should need and how we should act.”