EXCLUSIVE: NBA legend Dominique Wilkins opens up about experiencing the sting of racial discrimination when host of upscale Atlanta restaurant Le Bilboquet 'looked him up and down' then turned him away to 'keep a level of elegance'

Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | July 12, 2021 | Laura Collins

[Cecily]

NBA legend Dominique Wilkins has opened up for the first time about the shocking moment he was turned away from an upscale Atlanta restaurant because of the color of his skin.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com the Hall of Famer, nine-time NBA All-Star and Atlanta Hawks Vice President told how he felt the sting of discrimination as the host of Le Bilboquet looked him up and down then refused to seat him on the grounds that they were trying to 'keep a level of elegance.'

He said, 'I've never got turned down by a single restaurant in my life until this new restaurant. I've been to all the top restaurants in the city – that's better food – and they've never turned me down.'

[Steve_Seattle]

"Or, you could have removed your hat. A friend was told to remove his hat or leave a bar on Worth Street in Palm Beach, Ta-Boo."

I went bald at a young age and was sensitive about it in those days.

[FLvoter]

“He said, ‘I’ve never got turned down by a single restaurant in my life until this new restaurant. I’ve been to all the top restaurants in the city –”
______________________________

So he admits he’s incredibly privileged but this one time it could be nothing but racism. Yeah ok.

[1Old Pro]

I went bald at a young age and was sensitive about it in those days.

And see how lucky you are, now it's the style :)

[SuperLuminal]

Maybe he has drugged his way through all the millions he was paid and is just cruising around looking for a payday...

Guaranteed that he will get it...

[ronniesgal]

he still flapping his gums about this?? It’s not like it happened yesterday, Do.

[ThunderSleeps]

The only place I expect an immediate seating with no reservation is at a fast food place. Maybe he just feels entitled or better than the rest of us. Certainly he seems to think all the people waiting to be seated or bothering to make reservations should wait for him. Talk about privilege...

[qaz123]

What’s funny is, when this happened one of the local stations did a report from the restaurant. Clearly visible to the world, as they were reporting, was a very nicely dressed black couple eating at the restaurant.

[qaz123]

What he fails to mention, as well, is his reputation for showing up right before the kitchen closes with his entourage. Keeping the place open because they don’t want to have issues like this. And then doesn’t tip.

[arthurus]

'keep a level of elegance.'

So how was he dressed? Were his pants down around his ass? Did he have a palmetto hairstyle? Well, I guess if that then he was definitely refused because he is black if one accepts that black men dress that way because of their genes.

[DPMD]

How anyone who’s seen him dunk could think he was anything short of elegant is a fool.

[cyclotic]

I figured he was some pampered, overpaid sports guy trying to keep his name in the news.

[viewfromthefrontier]

But Wilkins said, 'A lot of times people disguise discrimination or racism through different methods. In this place it was in the form of a dress code'

Seriously?? Heaven forbid we impose a dress code on a millionaire!

[logi_cal869]

This was put in forum (below) in May, but they apparently spent the last 2 months scrubbing the internet (I spent 10 minutes and couldn't find it on the web). I had to search for the post and save it to insert it below:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3962039/posts