The Sacramento Kings and Bay Area Hip-Hop artist E-40 released a joint statement on Wednesday regarding the rapper being ejected from Game 1 of the King's first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors. E-40, real name Earl Stevens, initially cited racial bias as a reason why he was escorted from his courtside seat at Golden 1 Center after an altercation with a fan and asked for an investigation of the situation from the organization."I was subjected to disrespectful heckling over the course of the Warriors-Kings game in Sacramento. During the fourth quarter, I finally turned around and addressed one heckler in an assertive but polite manner," E-40 said in a statement on Saturday. "Yet, shortly thereafter, Kings' security approached me, assumed that I instigated the encounter and proceeded to kick me out of the arena."Wednesday's joint statement said that the ejection was just an instance of miscommunication between E-40 and the Kings. "Contrary to speculation, Mr. Earl 'E-40' Stevens did not stand excessively from his ticketed courtside seat; the outcome resulted from an unfortunate misunderstanding between both parties."The statement also said that the Kings organization will continue to equitably enforce the NBA Fan Code of Conduct to ensure guests can comfortably enjoy games free of disrespectful heckling and other disruptive conduct. "Mr. Stevens has previously attended games at Golden 1 Center without incident, and the Kings look forward to welcoming him back to our arena in the future."The next opportunity for E-40 to appear at a Kings game would be April 26 if the team's series against the Warriors lasts that long.