Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Criticizes Beverly Hills Over Shutdown of Community Event

Brown's panel discussion on culture and leadership was abruptly shut down by police, sparking his public rebuke of the city's handling of the gathering.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown expressed strong frustration after Beverly Hills police shut down his NBA All-Star Weekend event on Saturday night. Brown posted video of the confrontation with a police officer, questioning the reason behind the shutdown of what he described as a panel discussion about culture, the future, and leadership. The NBA star criticized Beverly Hills, calling the city "trash" on social media and claiming the community-focused event was unfairly targeted.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing tensions between community-driven cultural events and local government regulations, especially in affluent areas like Beverly Hills. Brown's public response may prompt further discussion about how such events are managed and permitted, potentially influencing future interactions between organizers and city officials. It also raises broader questions about how cultural gatherings aimed at leadership and social progress are received in exclusive neighborhoods.

The details

According to the reports, the dispute centered around the event's permitting. The police officer told Brown that the permit for the event had been denied, but the organizers had proceeded with it anyway. Brown argued that the gathering was a panel discussion, not a party, and that the music had been playing during the day. However, the officer maintained that the city had shut down the event due to the lack of a valid permit.

  • The incident occurred on Saturday night during NBA All-Star Weekend.
  • Brown posted the video of the confrontation with the police officer on February 15, 2026.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A guard for the Boston Celtics who is known for his nonprofit organization, Boston XChange, which aims to foster cultural innovation and build generational wealth in underserved communities.

Beverly Hills Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that shut down Brown's event, citing a lack of a valid permit.

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What they’re saying

“We are just trying to have an event, a panel talking about culture, talking about future, talking about leadership. I feel like we're being targeted.”

— Jaylen Brown

“Well, you applied for a permit, the permit was denied and you guys still had the event.”

— Beverly Hills Police Officer

“Beverly Hills is so trash I'm offended had a great panel about the future of culture with great guest people worked hard for this how dare y'all.”

— Jaylen Brown (X)

What’s next

The Beverly Hills Police Department has referred inquiries about the incident to the city's code enforcement division, which has yet to provide a statement or explanation regarding the decision to shut down the event.

The takeaway

This confrontation highlights the ongoing challenges between community-driven cultural events and local government regulations, especially in affluent areas like Beverly Hills. Jaylen Brown's public criticism of the city's handling of the event may prompt further discussions about how such gatherings are managed and permitted, potentially influencing future interactions between organizers and city officials.