Cleveland.com apologizes for falling for NBA All-Star Game hoax

The vice president of content for Cleveland.com apologized Monday for the website having fallen for a hoax involving HB2 and the NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, and for dragging the Associated Press in, too.

Chris Quinn, in a story posted on the website, wrote: “Sometimes we make the kind of mistake at cleveland.com that requires an explanation and apology to our audience.”

The site ran information from a story spoofed to look like it came from the ABC News website that said the NBA had threatened to move the 2017 NBA All-Star Game from Charlotte over opposition to North Carolina’s HB2 legislation, which limits LGBT protections and was passed in response to a Charlotte city ordinance that provided those protections.

The website, which is affiliated with the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, also apologized for erroneously using an Associated Press byline on the story.

The NBA is taking a wait-and-see approach on HB2 and the All-Star Game, which will be played next February.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 6:21 PM with the headline "Cleveland.com apologizes for falling for NBA All-Star Game hoax."