It’s a painfully awkward situation when two colleagues argue in public, but most are lucky to avoid the additional exposure of a television audience. However, one couple wasn’t so lucky during the New York Knicks’ preseason game in Washington on Friday night.
With MSG Network studio host Bill Pidto reading a promo as the broadcast returned from commercial, a man and woman wearing replica Knicks jerseys appeared in the crowd at Capital One Arena. Only instead of popcorn or a large drink, they shared an intense conversation with those around them.
A man sitting in a row behind the two Knicks fans listened noticeably as the woman became more agitated, turning her head away from her acquaintance and wiping a tear from her eye.
“Homie in the back just wanted to watch some basketball games, now he has to listen to this,” one fan wrote on X.
Curiously, as the woman became more excited, the man seemed to withdraw and began to look into the distance as the game returned from a timeout.
A man sitting behind the two Knicks fans listened noticeably as the woman stirred, turned her head toward an acquaintance and wiped a tear from her eye.
A lot of responses focused on MSG Network’s decision to stick with the arguing couple during what could have been a more private moment.
‘Why do they keep the camera on him?’ asked one fan online.
“It’s not cool to have the camera pointed at them like that,” another added.
Many more based their answers on assumptions. Not only were the two supposed to be in a romantic relationship, but many of the male X commenters pointed her out directly.
“Body language is toxic,” one man wrote on X. “Block his number.”
“Praying for that king,” added another.
“She really ruined his night,” read perhaps X’s most damning post. “She deserves better.”
A few more noticed that she seemed to smile after wiping the tears from her face. Although, to be fair, he could have been laughing in exasperation.
“She really feels crazy emotions for her brother, from crying to laughing to worrying that he’s really mad,” one man wrote.
‘How do you go from crying to laughing at his face?’ asked another.
Although the details behind the fight are still unclear, the game ended with the Wizards winning 118-117.
Now the Knicks are set to begin their season on Tuesday against the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Wizards will also open their season against Boston when they host the Celtics on Thursday in Washington.