Spurs Respond to Viral “How Can They Afford It?” Text, Emphasizing Commitment to Belonging and Respect for All Races
A now-deleted TikTok video that racked up more than 1.4 million views is drawing backlash after appearing to show a woman making offensive comments about Hispanic fans during a San Antonio Spurs game.
The video, originally posted by TikTok user @inluvwganineee, was filmed during Thursday night’s matchup between the Spurs and the Phoenix Suns at the Frost Bank Center. The Spurs secured a 101 to 100 win, clinching a playoff spot, but the moment circulating online has shifted attention away from the game.
In the clip, the woman, seated in the lower level, is seen texting someone identified as “Chris.” The message from Chris reads, “A lot of crazy Hispanic fans.” The woman appears to type back, “All Hispanic! How can they afford it,” before the video cuts off prior to the message being sent.
Social Media Reacts as Video Gains Millions of Views
The video was shared with a text overlay that read, “If your gma was at the game tonight, ew,” along with a caption calling the message “craaaazy” and urging someone to “come get your gma.” The Drake song “No Face” plays over the clip.
It quickly spread across platforms, including a repost by Spurs fan page “SPURS Uncensored” on Facebook, amplifying outrage among viewers who called out the remarks as racist and out of touch with the city’s identity.
Though the original TikTok has since been deleted, the video had already surpassed 1.4 million views, continuing to circulate through reposts and screenshots.
Spurs Respond, Emphasize Inclusion and Latino Community
The San Antonio Spurs issued a response following the viral backlash, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to inclusion and respect.
“All of us in the Spurs organization are proud to live in San Antonio, a city that shines and thrives because of the culture and contributions of our Latino community,” the team said in a statement.
“Inclusion is a foundation for the San Antonio Spurs. We strive to provide an environment, in our facilities and across our community, that celebrates belonging and respect regardless of race or ethnicity. Por Vida.”
Eastside Arena Context Fuels Backlash Towards Spurs Commitment to Inclusion
The incident has struck a deeper chord locally as the Frost Bank Center sits on San Antonio’s Eastside, a historically Black community with deep cultural roots and now a strong Latino presence. For many residents and fans, the comments seen in the video do not just reflect one individual’s perspective, but a broader tension between who the city is and how some still choose to see it.
The moment has also reignited deeper concerns about what inclusion looks like in practice, particularly for a franchise whose roster has historically been made up largely of Black players and supported by a diverse fan base.
Some also point to ongoing frustrations from Black owned media outlets in San Antonio that say they have struggled to gain consistent access to cover the team, raising questions about the Spurs’ claim that they “celebrate belonging and respect regardless of race or ethnicity.”
Spurs Actions Contradict Statement
The frustration is further tied to concerns about the Project Marvel development tied to the arena itself. Community members have emphasized that this feels contradictory for the organization to promote inclusion while supporting projects and economic decisions that they believe disproportionately impact the same Black and Latino communities that make up much the Spurs fan base.
The conversation has also expanded to include scrutiny of leadership and ownership, with critics pointing to what they see as contradictions between public messaging and political affiliations, such as Micheal Dell’s billion-dollar contribution to Trump accounts, connected to figures tied to the organization.
For many, the issue is not just about one viral video, but whether the values being promoted are consistently reflected across all levels of the Spurs organization, from fan experience to media access to economic impact in the communities that support the team.
