Charles Barkley boos, pledges $250K for San Francisco's homeless

Charles Barkley faced a hostile reception from fans during the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco, where he was booed for previously calling the city 'the armpit of America' and 'rat-infested.' Despite his disdain, he attended the event, attempting to express support for the city and its mayor, Daniel Lurie, while also mentioning the need to address the homelessness crisis. Barkley previously vowed to boycott the All-Star festivities due to his negative views on San Francisco but ultimately volunteered at a local charity and donated $250,000 to help combat homelessness. His mixed messages have drawn criticism, with some fans and players questioning his sincerity. Warriors star Draymond Green labeled Barkley 'crazy' for his comments, while Barkley's insistence that San Francisco is not a 'beautiful city' continued to provoke backlash. Nonetheless, Barkley remains hopeful for change under the current mayor's leadership.