Celtics' Jaylen Brown Blasts Beverly Hills Over Disputed Event Shutdown

NBA All-Star claims city's apology was unacceptable, citing $300K in losses and false permit claims

Feb. 28, 2026 at 11:39am by Ben Kaplan

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Celtics star Jaylen Brown criticized the city of Beverly Hills over the shutdown of his event during NBA All-Star weekend, disputing the city's claims about permit issues and highlighting over $300,000 in losses. Brown expressed frustration over the incident, which he said embarrassed him and his brand, and called the city's subsequent apology unacceptable.

Why it matters

The incident raises questions about the relationship between professional athletes, their business ventures, and local governments, as well as the transparency and accountability of municipal decision-making processes. Brown's experience could set a precedent for how similar situations are handled in the future.

The details

Brown, an NBA All-Star starter, hosted an event on February 14 for his apparel brand, 741 Performance, in partnership with Oakley. The gathering took place at the mansion of Oakley's founder, James Jannard, and aimed to 'use your platform and bring positivity to the community,' featuring a discussion panel. However, around 7 p.m., Beverly Hills police interrupted and closed down the event, citing a denied permit application. Despite this, Beverly Hills officials later contradicted that account, stating no permit application had been submitted or denied.

  • On February 14, Jaylen Brown hosted an event for his apparel brand in Beverly Hills.
  • Around 7 p.m. on February 14, Beverly Hills police shut down the event, citing a denied permit application.

The players

Jaylen Brown

An NBA All-Star starter for the Boston Celtics who hosted an event during NBA All-Star weekend that was shut down by Beverly Hills police.

Beverly Hills

The city that initially claimed Jaylen Brown's event was shut down due to a denied permit application, but later contradicted that account.

James Jannard

The founder of Oakley, who hosted Jaylen Brown's event at his mansion in Beverly Hills.

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What they’re saying

“I got embarrassed to some degree. I feel like that apology, even in the statement they put out, they included some statements that wasn't true. So I don't think that apology was acceptable.”

— Jaylen Brown, NBA Player

“I lost a lot of money in terms of partners, etc., and people were making assumptions like we didn't go through proper protocols. So just all-around, it was a bad look. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm extremely offended. My team is offended still. I'm not sure what the conclusion is going to be. All I know is that it was some (expletive).”

— Jaylen Brown, NBA Player

What’s next

The city of Beverly Hills has pledged to take steps to prevent future misinformation and errors in handling event permits and shutdowns.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in how local governments interact with high-profile individuals and businesses, especially when it comes to event permitting and enforcement. It also underscores the potential financial and reputational consequences that can arise from miscommunication and disputed claims between municipalities and prominent figures.