Karl Malone Being a Part of All-Star Weekend was a Bad Idea.

During the 1970’s, the world saw the birth of some of the most important movements and events across every genre. The Godfather and Jaws shocked audiences across cinemas. Scooby Doo played to children on massive television screens, and once an older family member flips the channel, you might see television news covering the end of the war, or the fight for women’s equality. Singer-songwriters filled the waves with acoustic guitars, alongside the loud power chords of punk. Glam was also a mammoth genre with its rise in the 1970s, with one of its leaders being Gary Glitter. Glitter was once seen on numerous music programs sporting silver open fronted jackets, heels and pompadours. He was once the talk of the town and had numerous hits into the 1990s until charges were released to the public of Glitter’s child sex crimes. What was once a fun name with a good ring has turned into a forbidden saying representing a heinous crime. Like most of the criminals who commit these kinds of crimes, Glitter was never to be celebrated again.

On Feb. 18, Karl Malone, formerly of the Utah Jazz, was a judge for the Slam Dunk Contest at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, a basketball event, and was honored throughout. Although it seems like it makes perfect sense to have a former player of a team return to his home court for a festivity like this, his face, which was shown throughout the entire event, should have been absent from the start.

In 1983, when Malone was 20 years old and in college, he impregnated a 13-year-old girl named Gloria Bell, who in an attempt to soften the blow, claimed was his “girlfriend”. Malone then tried to deny paternity of the child, and when the Bell family sued Malone family, he was able to settle out of court, with him never acknowledging the father. Malone never acknowledged any wrongdoing to the family or Gloria Bell. The child Demetrius Bell and Malone never formed a real relationship.

So why is someone who committed such an atrocity in the spotlight again for an event in 2023? His ability to score a basketball and his ties to the state of Utah. The NBA prides itself on being a progressive, anti-violence organization, yet they look the other way in this instance. Commissioner Adam Silver has rightfully suspended Miles Bridges, for domestic abuse, and Kyrie Irving for antisemitic comments, but hail Malone as a hero. This is beyond cancel culture. Just because much of the world has forgotten about Malone’s past doesn’t mean that the NBA should as well.

In the PR world, this is asinine. The NBA, their PR team, all the players and fans knew exactly what would occur if they put a spotlight on Malone, and yet they ignored all the signs and went on with the event. Not only did they not address it at all, but they would not stop showing him every second they could, it was incredibly uncomfortable. The NBA needs to think about the people around the world who are victims of abuse and assault, and not have someone who represents those things serve as a mascot. The PR team should have chimed in, or at least apologized after the backlash that his involvement received, which they knew was coming because of the controversy surrounding Malone throughout the years.

Gary Glitter, after being arrested for his crimes and for being the creep he is, gave a bizarre apology to the public and attempted to disappear forever, shunned from the world. Malone’s response to the backlash for his involvement in the All-Star Weekend? Malone stated, “I’m not discussing any of that backlash, I don’t care. That’s my life, that’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything.” He ended off the interview by stating “Whatever, I’m human.” This is not the person who should be the face of an event.

What do you think of Karl Malone’s involvement in All-Star Weekend? Let us know below in the comments!