Funkmaster Flex brought some unexpected heat to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, and this time it had nothing to do with the Knicks-Sixers matchup.
The legendary Hot 97 DJ found himself in a physical altercation with another man inside the packed Manhattan arena, with video capturing the confrontation as it spiraled into a full-blown scene. Flex posted the footage to Instagram early Wednesday, giving the internet a front-row seat to the chaos.
Dressed head to toe in black, Flex can be seen charging across a crowded room toward the man before the two get physical. The commotion quickly draws attention, with people scrambling away as the confrontation unfolds. Security personnel and an NYPD officer eventually get between the men, hustling Flex out of the room and into a hallway as they attempt to bring the temperature down.
But Flex wasn’t about to let the footage do all the talking.
In the caption accompanying his Instagram post, the veteran DJ addressed speculation that he had been punched during the incident. Writing in all caps, Flex insisted that the video missed the moment he was allegedly struck in the face.
He also offered his version of what sparked the confrontation, accusing the other man, whom he described as an employee of a record company, of trying to set him up. According to Flex, the man wanted Flex to throw the first punch so he could potentially sue him. Flex further alleged that the man called him a “A BROKE NI**A” before throwing a drink on him.
The DJ did not identify the man in his post, and the allegations have not been independently confirmed.
The incident adds an unexpected sideshow to a night that was supposed to be about basketball at one of New York City’s most recognizable sporting venues. Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks and a longtime hub for hip-hop’s biggest names, became the backdrop for a confrontation that quickly made its way onto social media.
Representatives for the New York Police Department told outlets they had no information about the incident. Madison Square Garden had not responded to requests for comment as of publication.
For now, Flex has put his account of the dust-up out there, while questions remain about what happened before the cameras started rolling and whether the confrontation will lead to any further action.