Spike Lee says the fallout from his pro-Palestinian advocacy followed him home. The 69-year-old filmmaker and longtime Knicks season-ticket holder since 1985 has described an incident outside his house involving an Israeli flag, coming on the heels of a viral confrontation with a Yankees fan at Yankee Stadium in which Lee had to be pulled away by stadium security.
A Selfie Request Turns Into a Shouting Match
The confrontation happened before Game 2 of the Yankees’ wild-card series against the Red Sox on September 30, when a fan approached Lee in Yankee Stadium’s Legends Suite for a selfie, according to HuffPost. The outlet reports the fan allegedly asked Lee to profanely criticize Palestine in exchange for the photo. Video from the scene shows Lee being restrained by a stadium staffer as he stood up to find security, shouting at the fan, “Why’d you come over to me?!”
The fan was removed from the suite, according to a report from The Big Lead, which noted the person was indeed kicked out following the exchange. Lee has been outspoken about Palestinian suffering, particularly in Gaza, since Israel’s war began in 2023, per The New Arab, and has previously said a Palestinian flag accessory he carries represents his concern for Palestinian children and civilians and his belief in human dignity for all humankind.
Lee Describes a Flag Left at His Home
Beyond the stadium incident, Lee has said Lizzy Savetsky previously stood outside his house holding an Israeli flag before placing it in his mailbox, according to a report from Yahoo Entertainment. The account is presented as Lee’s own claim; Savetsky addressed the matter on social media, posting on X, “Just a little neighborly gift for Spike.” Lee has said tampering with someone’s mail is against the law, according to the New York Post.
Lee also said he has received considerable hate mail and continued to face criticism over his views, the Yahoo Entertainment report states. The filmmaker has remained a visible supporter of Palestine, a stance he discussed in a recent Variety interview tied to his broader public profile.
The Story Behind the Red Yankees Hat
In that same Variety interview, Lee shared a lighter anecdote about his signature red Yankees cap, which began after he bought a New Era Yankees jacket with a red stripe and wanted a hat to match. He said New Era initially told him, “We don’t do that,” since the company did not make a red Yankees hat at the time.
Lee said George Steinbrenner then called New Era after hearing what kind of hat he wanted, and the company ultimately made him a red Yankees cap. “I told him what I wanted, he called New Era, and they made me a red Yankee,” Lee said, crediting the moment with starting a broader trend of fans wearing non-team-color hats, according to Variety. Lee, who was a pivotal figure during the Knicks’ NBA championship run last season, has long been a fixture at both Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden.
