Donald Sterling’s reputation was destroyed after passing racist comments on his mistress.
Donald Sterling is a popular name in the world of the NBA. Sterling is a former attorney and businessman who owned the NBA team, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers between 1981-2014. Sterling’s ownership ended in 2014 when he was accused of racist remarks. A leaked audio from the TMZ Sportz featured the voiceover of Donald Sterling and V. Stiviano. V Stiviano alias Monica Gallegos, the mistress of Donald Sterling was accused by him for being close with Magic Johnson, a former NBA player.
Donald Sterling’s racist comments went viral, and he was criticized by critics and fans. The NBA league fined sterling with an amount of $2.5 million. Donald Sterling was given an order to sell the team by the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver. Shelly Sterling, wife of Donald Sterling, had a conversation with the Sterling Family Trust and spoke to many entrepreneurs to sell the team. In August 2014, San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers was sold to a businessman named Steve Ballmer for $2 billion.
In April 2014, an audio from TMZ Sportz was leaked and no one knew it would be the end of Donald Sterling as the owner of an NBA team. Vanessa Stiviano, the girlfriend of Donald Sterling posted a picture on Instagram with Magic Johnson and others. In the recording, Donald Sterling’s conversation with Stiviano goes “You can do anything with black men, but don’t bring them to the Los Angeles Clippers or me”.
Donald Sterling’s racial remark was viral and it received condemnation from many NBA players. Bobby Samini was hired as the attorney for the case by Donald Sterling. The recording was the talk of the town for many days. Reports confirmed Stiviano was threatened by Donald Sterling’s family and she also assured revenge on him. Sterling’s wife sued Stiviano and also filed a lawsuit against her. It was revealed Stiviano received a $1.8 million Los Angeles duplex, a Ferrari, two Bentleys, a Range Rover, and $200,000 from Donald Sterling.
After two weeks, Donald Sterling met the public and spoke to Anderson Cooper of CNN. He apologized for his racial remarks and also blamed Stiviano for the same. The Los Angeles Clippers’ sale was agreed in 2014 and Sterling settled his lawsuit in 2016. Donald Sterling retained his real estate business and Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel in West Los Angeles.
Who is Donald Sterling?
Donald Sterling is an entrepreneurand the former owner of the NBA team San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers.