Harlem Globetrotters Maxwell Pearce Gets An Apology After News Anchor Throws At Him

At a Harlem Globetrotters show earlier this year, Globetrotters’ player Maxwell Pearce said that two news anchors threw fruit at him, including a banana, while he was performing tricks at a show in Alabama. Apparently, this was a part of a bit that the two were doing, and they got a little too excited. Unfortunately for them, they were seemingly unaware of the history connected to throwing bananas at African-Americans. This prompted WBRC News Director Shannon Isbell to offer an on-air apology to Pearce. “In a moment of levity during a segment, two members of my team were tossing fruit as well as a basketball,” Isbell said during the show. “One of them threw a banana without knowing the racial implications of that action.”

Pearce took this as an opportunity to educate Isbell on why this was so hurtful to him. The interview aired on Friday where the two sat down for a discussion, and Pearce explained the historical context of throwing bananas at African Americans. “An on-air segment promoting a Globetrotters event with Mr. Pearce in January was intended to be lighthearted,” Isbell said. “However, it became something deeply hurtful to our guest as the result of our lack of understanding. We are grateful for the several enlightening, educational conversations we have had with Max over the last two months. I was happy to have him on our show about racial inequality and faith that aired last Friday.”