Amy and a Fan — Wesley Kaminsky

"Empty out your desk and go home" - @JustCallMeDjm

"The whole league's gotta be demolished and started over because of this tweet." - @MucciBandana

This is a story about vindication.

May 21, 2017

My day started like any other day. I woke up at 10:00 a.m., had a coffee and then pretended to do something at the gym. I ate lunch, strolled the streets of the Upper West Side and bought nothing. I returned home, almost watched a movie, almost started a new TV show, then showered and headed into work. It had been a rigorous day.

It was Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics and I was on the powerful keys that is NBA Twitter. At some point early on in the game the arena showed a video of comedians Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle sitting next to each other court side.

I got a GIF of it, thought of a caption and fired it away to 25 million people. In my mind, the copy was simple. "Amy and a fan on @NBAonTNT. #NBAGIF."

It was a harmless joke. Nobody was getting hurt. I didn't think anything of it.

I noticed there were more replies than usual. Within minutes, there was an uproar on social media.

The replies kept flooding in. I read every single one. Apparently I was now a racist, an 18 year-old intern and my personal favorite: I didn't know who Dave Chappelle was. Life comes at you fast.

I assumed it would blow over that night. I mean, after all, Avery Bradley did hit a game-winner to lift the Celtics to victory. But no, nobody cared about that. The internet wanted the head of whoever tweeted "Amy and a fan."

The next day, chaos would ensue. Barstool called it the "most disrespectful tweet of all-time."

"Whoever runs the NBA Twitter can take his seat at the front of the line, the first face on the Mt. Rushmore, as the creator of the worst tweets ever typed and sent. We need a congressional hearing to find out who sent this, what their intention was, and why they hate America. Forget all this Trump/Russia shit, this asshole who disrespected Chappelle in such a matter needs to be on a one-way trip to Pluto."

Dan Le Batard posted a twitter poll about it. Ryen Russillo did an entire segment about it on his show (he had my back). Reddit had an ongoing thread about it. The tweet was everywhere. It was mayhem.

Like most things on the internet, it eventually blew over. I wasn't satisfied though. What did Dave think of the tweet? Did he even see the tweet? Does he even care?

This is a story about vindication.

February 18, 2018

It's the NBA All-Star game and anybody who is anybody is at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

In addition to tweeting about fans, a big part of my job includes taking pictures of players, celebrities, and fans during an NBA game. On Sunday Night, there was an All-Star roster both on and off the court. I saw Kevin Hart and followed him with my iPhone camera. He went over to hug someone. It was Dave Chappelle. As tempting as it was to caption the video "Kevin and a fan," I steered clear.

This is a story about vindication.

Halftime comes and the players are mingling with the countless celebrities sitting court side. I see Chappelle exiting the court, shaking hands with (cough cough) fans and realize this is my chance.

I had actually gotten word a few months prior from a mutual friend, Joco, that Chappelle thought it was funny, but needed proper confirmation. My heart starts beating like the sound of Jumanji. I approach him, reach out my hand, and introduce myself as a friend of Joco's. I couldn't just come in hot with the tweet. I needed to get his attention first.

I then explain how I'm the person who tweeted the now infamous "Amy and a fan."

He immediately starts laughing. "That was you?!?"

I black out.

"Did you get in trouble for that?"

Still blacked out.

Dave walks away. This 1 minute interaction was everything I'd wanted and more for the past 9 months. Everything had finally come full circle. I felt free, like when Stanley Yelnats throws the rattlesnakes off him in Holes after being called a thief. Or like when a blindfolded Peter LaFleur defeats White Goodman. That free. I had defeated the internet.

And yes, Dave and I have transitioned to a first name basis now.