San Antonio Spurs Fans Show Pride Amid Viral Controversy

San Antonio — During the San Antonio Spurs’ victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, a video surfaced showing a woman in the crowd making a disparaging remark about Hispanic fans, and it quickly went viral. Fans responded strongly over the weekend.

The video, shared on TikTok by user @inluvwganineee, captured the woman replying to a message from someone named Chris, who said, “A lot of crazy Hispanic fans,” with, “All Hispanic! How can they afford it.”

Following the viral attention, the Spurs issued a statement Friday emphasizing pride in their city’s Latino community:

“All of us in the Spurs organization are proud to live in San Antonio, a city that shines and thrives because of the culture and contributions of our Latino community. Inclusion is a foundation for the San Antonio Spurs. We strive to provide an environment, in our facilities and across our community, that celebrates belonging and respect regardless of race or ethnicity. Por Vida.”

The phrase “Por Vida” — meaning “for life” — underscores the team’s commitment to inclusion and celebrates both the organization and the city’s rich cultural heritage. It also serves as the Spurs’ official slogan and hashtag across social media and promotions.

Latino culture is a cornerstone of San Antonio the video went viral, Spurs Spurs supporter Shea Serrano even tweeted that he planned to legally change his name to “Crazy Hispanic Fan.”

De’Aaron Fox, a Spurs All-Star, expressed shock upon seeing the clip during his postgame press conference.

“My high school was 60 percent Hispanic. I’m from Texas. Like, what do you expect?” Fox said. “It’s like going to Boston and complaining that there’s a bunch of White people. That makes zero sense.”

Fox noted that his children are one-quarter Mexican through his wife, Recee Fox, whose mother was born in Mexico.

“All his uncles are Black, all his tias are Mexican,” Fox said. “For someone to complain about that in San Antonio? It doesn’t make any sense. This should be normalized. You’ll see people who look different or speak with a different accent. That should just be part of life.”

During Saturday’s 134–119 win over the Indiana Pacers, fans embraced the movement, wearing “Crazy Hispanic Fan” shirts they had custom-made in the 24 hours following the video.

Frank Soliz, a 37-year-old commercial maintenance business owner and member of the Jackals fan section founded by Victor Wembanyama, quickly teamed up with a friend to design and print shirts for fellow Jackals ahead of Saturday’s game.

“We had to do something about that. We’re undeniable. We’re the Jackals. We’re family,” Soliz said. “Most of us in San Antonio are Hispanic fans, so I thought, ‘Let’s put it on a shirt and see what happens.’ It felt good to do it.”

Soliz added that he received requests from 10 fans in the Frost Bank Center for more shirts. The viral video inspired him to respond creatively and confidently.

“My mom’s from Mexico, and every time I come to a game, it’s all love,” he said. “I just wanted to contribute something, and it motivated me.”

He coordinated with Aidan Sterling, president of the Jackals, to help fans celebrate their Latino heritage with flags, sombreros, and other cultural symbols.

“The whole city came together to show what the Spurs fan base is — familia first,” Sterling said. “San Antonio’s culture is family-oriented, and for the most part, that culture is Hispanic.”

Sterling was impressed by the number of Mexican and Puerto Rican flags in the stands, noting that the support extended well beyond the Jackals section.

While speaking with The Athletic, Soliz spotted another fan in a custom “Crazy Hispanic Fan” shirt. AJ Reygadas, 42, explained that he had asked on social media for a shirt, received multiple offers, and had one printed by an agent at his firm. He wore it to the game to embrace the moment and keep it lighthearted, emphasizing that the woman in the original video remains unidentified.

“Most Mexicans don’t take this personally. We make fun of it and have fun,” Reygadas said. “We don’t know who she is — could be anyone. No one got her face, and that’s right. She made a mistake and will likely regret it. We’re San Antonio people; we embrace everyone. We’re not looking to condemn her or call for consequences. You can say what you want, but we’ll still welcome you.”

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