On March 4, superstar NBA guard Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies went live on Instagram brandishing a firearm in the Denver-area adult nightclub, Shotgun Willie’s. Then, security camera screenshots of Morant in the club getting lap dances with bottles and cash all around him circulated courtesy of the New York Post.
The whole story of Morant’s conduct went viral, and the professional athlete was immediately suspended by the NBA for eight games as sponsorships were swept out from underneath him.
Many on social media decried Shotgun Willie’s for “selling Morant out,” a breach of an unspoken yet no-less-important social contract of sorts: That is, clubs are supposed to protect their high-profile guests, provide them with security and privacy, and let what happens in the club stay in the club. And according to Shotgun Willie’s long-time General Manager, Matt Dunafon, this is exactly their policy.
However, Dunafon shares in an Exclusive ED interview that a still-unknown employee was possibly paid off to provide footage to the media.
