Beverly Hills issues apology; Jaylen Brown remains dissatisfied with closure.
The City of Beverly Hills issued an apology to Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown on Thursday, acknowledging that a prior statement regarding the circumstances that led to the police shutting down a brand event hosted by the NBA All-Star on Saturday night “contained inaccurate information.” Nonetheless, Brown remained critical of the city’s actions.
The city had stated in a message to The Boston Globe on Sunday that it denied a permit for the event due to past violations at the residence where the gathering took place, asserting that the organizers proceeded with the event regardless. Brown challenged that description, labeling the statement as “completely false.”
“Following a more thorough internal review, the City has concluded that its earlier public communication included inaccurate information,” Beverly Hills stated in a message on Instagram on Thursday. “In particular, no permit application was submitted or denied for the event, and the residence does not have any prior related violations on record. The City accepts full responsibility for the internal mistake that led to the dissemination of the inaccurate statement and is taking steps to prevent a recurrence.”
The event showcased Brown’s performance brand, 741, and was held at the home of Oakley founder Jim Jannard. Brown has a sponsorship agreement with Oakley.
“On behalf of the City, I would like to extend an apology to Jaylen Brown and the Jannard family,” city manager Nancy Hunt-Coffey stated in Thursday’s announcement. “The City has an obligation to its residents and neighborhoods to ensure compliance with established regulations for events conducted at private residences. These regulations are intended to safeguard the safety and welfare of neighbors and attendees. City staff observed conditions that were believed to be violations of City codes, and for that reason, the event was concluded.”
In response, Brown remarked that terminating the event based on the assumptions of officials who did not enter the home “raises serious due-process concerns,” and that the incident resulted in “significant financial and reputational harm.”
“This was a private, invitation-only gathering at a private residence among friends and partners, not a public or commercial event requiring a permit,” Jaylen Brown Enterprises Inc. stated in a message shared on Brown’s X account. “Music was voluntarily turned off at 6:00 PM, well before the 10:00 PM noise ordinance. Prior to the event, our team proactively reached out to the Beverly Hills Police Department to request the hiring of an off-duty officer for support, which was declined.”
“No evidence of any alleged violation was ever presented to the homeowner, our team, or legal counsel.”
Brown expressed his willingness to pursue a “constructive resolution” with the city, which indicated it would seek opportunities to collaborate with Brown and the Jannard family on community events.
ESPN’s Baxter Holmes contributed to this report.
