Vivek Ramaswamy has dismissed as 'dumb' the allegation that he attempted to enter the New York Knicks locker room after an NBA playoff game in Cleveland, framing the incident as a product of dirty politics by Ohio Democrats. The Republican gubernatorial candidate said such fabrications discourage 'sane' people from entering politics.
What Happened
Ramaswamy and his wife attended Game 4 of the NBA playoffs in Cleveland, sitting courtside as the Cavaliers were defeated by the New York Knicks. The Rooster, an online provocateur in Ohio politics, posted on his Substack that after the game, Ramaswamy tried to gain entry into the Knicks locker room under the pretext of welcoming them to Ohio, using his status as the GOP nominee for governor. The alleged story of Ramaswamy's humiliation quickly spread and drew widespread commentary.
Ramaswamy's Response
Ramaswamy claimed the story was entirely fabricated by a leftist blogger with mental health issues. In a lengthy statement, he explained that he initially did not want to respond because the narrative was 'very dumb,' but felt compelled to highlight how toxic politics has become. 'I am a Cavs fan. Love going to their games, always have, I have been going for decades. My wife and I bought courtside tickets for Game 4 against the Knicks, and our team got smoked. It was brutal. The two of us watched the game, face in hands, in disbelief and dejection during the second half, then peaced out right after the buzzer straight to our car (accompanied by state-provided security the entire time),' he said.
Ramaswamy emphasized that he did not wait to watch the Knicks celebrate, stating, 'No, we did not stick around to watch the Knicks celebrate their romping. There is literally no amount of money on Earth you could have paid me to sit around and watch them collect their Eastern Conference trophy, let alone watch them parade off the court to their locker room. A sharp poke in the eye would have been more pleasant.' He further denounced the blogger's account, saying, 'But then, a left-wing Ohio blogger with mental health issues publishes that not only did I wait until after the ceremony, but that I lingered around and tried to enter the Knicks' locker room after the game, and told them I wanted to 'welcome' them to Ohio. This is nuts! He also published other vivid details. Those were also 100% nuts.'
The Bigger Picture
Ramaswamy noted that Ohio Democrats shared the fictional story, and news platforms began reporting it. 'The whole thing is dumb, to be clear. But it is dirty, it happens repeatedly, and the public is better off knowing about it. It is why sane people rarely go into politics. Anyone who does should probably have their own head checked out (including me). My team sensibly told me not to dignify it by commenting on it. Politically, they are probably right. But if every leader were to follow that advice, it rewards the incentives for bad actors to lie not just about me, but about others in the future too. Call me idealistic, but I do not think that is how things are supposed to work,' Ramaswamy stated.
