Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is weighing legal action after the City of Beverly Hills abruptly shut down a private event he hosted during NBA All-Star weekend. The incident, which happened Saturday evening, has left Brown frustrated, embarrassed, and questioning the city’s handling of his brand.
The event, part of Brown’s 741 Performance initiative, was designed to explore leadership, culture, and the future of collaboration across industries. Guests included former NBA champion Andre Iguodala and rapper LaRussell, among others.
“Change doesn’t come from one entity. It comes from everybody working together,” Brown told ESPN’s Andscape. “I had leaders from different fields all talking about what the next generation could and should look like.”
Despite its private nature, Beverly Hills police arrived at 7:00 p.m. and closed the event without discussion. Brown estimates he personally lost $300,000, while sponsors suffered between $300,000 and $500,000.
“I’m not a legality type of pursuing guy, but you embarrassed my brand and my team. And I think that is unfair,” Brown said. “And for you to continue to tell untruths in your apology statement, I feel offended by it.”
Apology not sufficient
The city later issued an apology, acknowledging inaccurate statements in its first public response. Still, Brown made it clear he is not satisfied.
“You targeted me and my @741Performance event based on biased information then you give a half ass apology after the damage is already done,” he wrote on X.
The controversy stems from a prior permit issue at a nearby property owned by Oakley founder Jim Jannard. However, no permit was needed for Brown’s private event, which was closed to the public and limited to invited guests only.
Brown’s frustration extends beyond financial losses. The incident strikes at the heart of his brand’s mission to foster community and collaboration. He has said he plans to meet with his team this weekend to decide whether to pursue legal action against Beverly Hills.
As the Celtics return to Los Angeles to face the Lakers, it remains unclear if Brown will meet with city officials or how the situation will ultimately be resolved. One thing is certain: the fallout from Saturday’s shutdown has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a forward-looking event for his brand and the next generation of leaders.
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