Britt McHenry Ejected From Washington Wizards Game After Drink-Throwing Incident
The State Department press advisor clashed with spectators during the Washington Wizards' home opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
U.S. State Department press advisor and former sports television personality Britt McHenry found herself at the center of a courtside controversy on Wednesday night during the Washington Wizards' home opener at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. McHenry was involved in a heated verbal and physical confrontation with spectators that ultimately resulted in her exit from the venue amid a chorus of boos.
The incident occurred during the game between the Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks, which the Wizards ultimately won 128-116. According to eyewitness accounts and circulating video footage, the situation began to escalate after McHenry and a male companion asked nearby fans to quiet down. The individuals sitting behind them had reportedly been loudly heckling former Wizards player and current Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma, as well as Kuzma's fiancée, Winnie Harlow.
Accounts of what immediately preceded the physical retaliation vary slightly across sources. Sources close to McHenry claimed that the group behind them directed inappropriate and misogynistic remarks toward her to instigate a reaction, and that items were thrown at her first. Similarly, a source speaking to Page Six stated that the fans began targeting McHenry after she intervened, with one individual allegedly making misogynistic comments and throwing a drink at her.
Video footage captured the confrontation, showing McHenry grabbing a beverage and tossing it back into the crowd. The altercation quickly intensified into a chaotic scene with multiple items flying through the air. One witness alleged that McHenry also threw a burger at a fan before recording began. As McHenry made her way through the stands, hostile spectators hurled rally towels in her direction while jeering. Despite the hostile reception, McHenry appeared unbothered, blowing kisses and waving to the crowd as she departed.
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact nature of her departure from the arena. While multiple reports and video evidence indicate that security guards escorted McHenry out of the building, sources close to McHenry disputed this narrative. They insisted she was not officially kicked out, claiming she chose to leave voluntarily to visit the bar while her guest remained behind to watch the rest of the game.
Page Six reported that security removed both McHenry and the fan who initially threw a drink at her. McHenry was later captured on camera engaged in a brief discussion with a security guard who was directing her toward the exit. Representatives and sources have not detailed whether any formal stadium bans or legal actions will follow the altercation.
McHenry, who previously worked as an ESPN correspondent and a Fox Nation commentator before transitioning into her current role within the federal administration, has a history of high-profile public incidents. Most notably, ESPN suspended her for a week in 2015 after a video surfaced showing her berating a towing company employee, an episode she later contended was captured on heavily edited footage.
As of Thursday, McHenry has not publicly commented on the viral videos or the altercation at the Wizards game. The Washington Wizards and arena management have likewise not released an official statement regarding the security response to the courtside disturbance.