Charles Barkley received an unpleasant welcome to San Francisco.
The NBA legend turned media personality was in the Bay Area as the Inside the NBA crew arrived for the All-Star weekend.
Barkley’s sour relationship with fans in the city began when he vowed to boycott the festivities and avoid San Francisco in January.
The prominent voice remarked that the city is a ‘rat-infested’ place live on TNT Sports.
When co-analyst Kenny Smith pushed back by saying the Bay Area is a ‘beautiful’ place, Barkley was quick to intervene.
“San Francisco is not a beautiful city!” Barkley retorted.
“Rats. Cats…Y’all are not gonna make me like San Francisco. No. Nope, nope, nope, nope.”
Despite these remarks last month, Barkley has made a U-turn on his promise to boycott and is in the West Coast for the event.
To no surprise, his arrival to San Francisco has not been welcomed by fans, who have not forgotten the 61-year-old’s comments.
Barkley and the TNT crew opened up All-Star weekend in front of a live audience on Thursday night and about five minutes in was booed.
“I actually like San Francisco, I really do,” Barkley insisted in a attempt to calm the jeers.
The crowd continued the boos towards Barkley as the former Phoenix Suns player spoke about homelessness.
“I mean, obviously, hey listen, we got to do something about the homeless,” Barkley added. “They need their help. We got to clean it up a little bit.
“I say, ‘Help the homeless,’ and some of these people so stupid they boo.”
That comment didn’t go over well on social media either..
“Charles Barkley dissing the fans of San Francisco while in San Francisco is quite the option,” one wrote.
“Charles Barkley is a Savage,” posted another.
Popular musician Chance the Rapper later joined the four hosts onstage and disagreed with Barkley’s opinion.
“Shoutout to the rain and San Francisco,” he said. “It’s a beautiful city. I love coming out to the Bay.”
Next year’s All-Star event will stay on the West Coast as Los Angeles plays host — another city Barkley may also not approve of.
