Spike Lee’s Former Brooklyn Home Vandalized Following Gentrification Rant

When filmmaker Spike Lee delivered his extended rant against gentrification this week, he made the now-apparent mistake of revealing the Fort Greene address where he grew up. Three days later, that Washington Street building in Brooklyn has been vandalized, with the perpetrators breaking windows and spray-painting “Do the Right Thing,” in reference to Lee’s iconic film, on the staircase and facade.

NY1 reported on the incident, saying police are still investigating whether the vandalism is connected to Lee’s speech, in which he lamented the “motherfuckin’ Christopher Columbus Syndrome,” which causes “hipsters” to think they have “discovered” traditionally black neighborhoods.

See photos below of the damage, as captured by NY1:

Lee’s brother, Arnold Lee, spoke to NY1, saying, “Spike needs to stop with whatever situation he was talking about over here. Because he doesn’t live here – and he’s not involved in it. Don’t make it personal. That way somebody knows where you live.”

The entire incident is all the more ironic because of what happened the last time Lee gave out an address. You may recall that time in March of 2012 when Lee retweeted the supposed Florida address of George Zimmerman, which just turned out be the home of an elderly couple who then received death threats. Lee later apologized and told Oprah Winfrey, “I did a stupid thing.”

Watch video below, via NY1:

[photo via screengrab]

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