Really?! Popular Black ESPN Reporter Racially Profiled at a California Store?

For many people, it doesn’t matter who you are, or what you’ve accomplished, all they see is skin color. And that was exactly the case for senior NBA reporter Marc J. Spears, who recently found himself being racially profiled during a recent shopping trip out in Healdsburg, California.

Not only is Spears a veteran writer for ESPN and Andscape, he has appeared on a myriad of ESPN’s most popular shows, including “Get Up,” “First Take,” “NBA Today,” and many others.

In an Instagram post, Spears went into detail about how he was treated when he asked to use the bathroom at a store called Anthem Interiors while he was with friends (who were also Black).

In a post, he wrote, “I want the first of all say that I love the @cityofhealdsburg and have had lot of great days there. My good friend and TV cohost @davidlawrencechef and his staff at @goodnightshealdsburg have always treated me like family when I go to his restaurant as they did on this night. I also have become really close to @claymauritson at @mauritsonwines and he, his family and his staff always give me the best experiences when I come by as I also did on this day.”

But, he explained, this day had gone wrong in Healdsburg because of how he was treated by two employees by Anthem Interiors.

“My friends and I, all African-American, were racially profiled at a store in Healdsburg called @antheminteriors by the two employees,” he explained. “When things like that happen, I get angry inside and feel pressure to buy something expensive to prove my worth and their wrong. After refraining from the urge, I tried to give the lady that worked there the benefit of the doubt by asking if she knew where the nearest bathroom was.”

After attempting to diffuse the situation by asking an employee where the nearest bathroom was, the employee’s response took him by surprise, said Spears. 

“She suggested that I go to the @healdsburgpolicedepartment across the street to use their facilities. Confused I asked her why would I go to the bathroom at a police station? Her response was that it will be OK they won’t arrest you,” he recounted. “I immediately departed and found a bathroom at a very friendly wine bar across the street called @liocowineco. Again, I truly love Healdsburg and won’t let this one incident steal my joy or cause me not to return. But I didn’t want to let them off the hook either. Thanks to the ones that show love, not ignorance and racism.

The ways in which people go out of their way to racially profile Black people made for some shocking headlines in 2023, but we’d much rather see this type of mess be left behind—along with a few other wants and wishes on our 2024 New Year’s resolution list.

The founder of Anthem Interiors, Janelle Loevner, has since apologized to Spears, telling the San Francisco Chronicle, “I’m deeply sorry that was his experience. I worked really long and hard to build a solid business. I care deeply about the community, my employees, about all of it — so for this to happen it’s just devastating.”

Spears reportedly felt the apology was “sincere” and has since moved on from the incident.