San Fran Crowd Turns on Charles Barkley—He Fires Back Explicitly [WATCH]

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley faced a hostile reception from fans in San Francisco during NBA All-Star Weekend, leading him to respond with an obscene gesture after being repeatedly booed and heckled.

Barkley, a longtime analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, has been outspoken about his disdain for San Francisco in the past.

He previously referred to the city as “rat-infested” and “the armpit of America” while insisting “San Francisco is not a beautiful city!”

Charles Barkley saying San Francisco is full of homeless crooks was probably the best moment of the NBA All Star Game. pic.twitter.com/xwdfz4HARr

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 19, 2024

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He also vowed to boycott the All-Star Weekend but later reversed his stance and joined the TNT crew for the event.

“I’m not going. I’m not going to that rat-infested place out in San Francisco…San Francisco is not a beautiful city.” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/7fXWMCV5um

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 17, 2025

Fans in the Bay Area, however, did not forget his previous remarks. During the broadcast, Barkley was met with loud boos and chants of “F**k you, Chuck”* while seated in the TNT studio.

In response, the 61-year-old turned around in his chair and flipped off the crowd with both hands.

The moment, which was captured on video, quickly went viral.

The fans appeared to take it in stride, cheering and laughing at his reaction.

Charles Barkley

(via @LeagueAlerts) pic.twitter.com/7yQwnapzCO

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 16, 2025

Despite the ongoing backlash, Barkley spent part of Saturday volunteering at a San Francisco church, serving meals to the homeless in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood.

He also announced a $250,000 donation to an organization focused on poverty relief and social justice efforts.

However, tensions resurfaced when Barkley commented on the city’s homelessness crisis during another segment of the All-Star Weekend.

“I actually like San Francisco, I really do,” Barkley stated. “Obviously we got to do something about the homeless. They need help. We need to clean it up a little bit.”

His remarks were met with more boos from the crowd. Barkley responded, saying, “I say ‘help the homeless’ and some of these people are so stupid they boo.”

The incident highlighted the ongoing friction between Barkley and San Francisco fans, stemming from his previous criticisms of the city.

While his comments about the city’s conditions sparked backlash, his participation in community service efforts signaled an attempt to address some of the issues he previously called out.

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