Irving Gives Middle Finger to TD Garden Crowd

During Game 1 of the April 17, 2022 Nets–Celtics first-round playoff series at TD Garden, broadcast and fan-shot video captured Kyrie Irving making one or more middle-finger gestures toward sections of the crowd [1][6]. The visuals were widely circulated on social media and embedded in multiple outlets' coverage of the playoff opening. In a postgame interview Irving defended his actions, saying, "I’mma have the same energy for them," and adding, "And it’s not every fan, I don’t wanna attack every fan, every Boston fan. When people start yelling 'pussy' or 'bitch' and 'fuck you' and all this stuff, [there’s] just so much you can take" [1]. Local reporting noted the intensity and language of some fan taunts during his returns to Boston, documenting the hostile vocal environment that Irving referenced [12]. The incident included an immediate public explanation from Irving and wide social-media distribution of the footage, reinforcing the incident's visibility beyond the arena [1][6][12].

The April 17, 2022 middle-finger episode is a major escalation because it was captured on live broadcast during the playoffs, involved an explicit obscene gesture, and featured an on-record, defensive explanation from Irving that he was "returning the same energy" to fans who used profanity [1][6]. The visibility of the incident—playoff setting, televised coverage, and subsequent circulation—made it a focal point in national coverage of the Irving–Boston dynamic and a reference in later reflections on his Boston tenure [1][6][9].

Following the incident Irving addressed the gesture in media appearances, saying he was matching the crowd's energy and noting that he did not aim to target all Boston fans [1]. The video circulated widely on social platforms and was cited in later commentary about Irving's conduct in Boston; in June 2024 Irving said he "wasn't my best self" during his Celtics tenure and specifically referenced the flip-off moment as not reflecting well on him [9]. The episode remained part of the public record and contributed to continued booing and taunting during Irving's 2024 return to Boston as a member of a different team [1][6][9][12].