The Washington Wizards issued an apology after playing an April Fools’ prank on an unsuspecting fan.
As seen in a clip from the Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers game on Wednesday (April 1), a fan named Jackson was given the opportunity to win $10,000 if he made a blindfolded half-court shot. He was unable to make the shot, but was given the impression that he pulled it off, with alarms blaring and everyone coming in to congratulate him.
When they offered him the chance to see a replay of the shot, and it was revealed to him that he was the victim of a prank. “I really hate April Fools’ Day, I am so sorry,” the host of the half-court shot told him. For his part, Jackson laughed off the moment and he was offered an autographed jersey as a consolation prize. He was not offered any money.
After a video of the moment started to circulate online, the Wizards released a statement apologizing for misleading the fan.
“We apologize for last night’s April Fools’ joke that left many wondering if we had misled a fan,” the statement read. “The skit involving our mascot and other members of our performance team was scripted and intended to celebrate the day. All participants were in on the joke, but we missed the mark. Our fans are our priority and we continue to be committed to providing a positive experience to all who attend our games.”
Hey Jackson, we all get confused by April Fools’ Day jokes now and then. This year, for instance, a report that Jessie Buckley had been cast as the next James Bond managed to trick enough fans that it caused a bit of a furor.
