Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hilton Hotels Apologizes to NBA’s Kyrie Irving for Bedbugs

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game at against the Los Angeles Lakers Quicken Loans Arena on February 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up prior to the game at against the Los Angeles Lakers Quicken Loans Arena on February 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.

*Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving played only nine minutes on Sunday in his team’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team blamed his shortened court time on “flu-like symptoms,” but after the game, Irving revealed the real reason.

Bedbugs.

The athlete told reporters he was up all night from being freaked out over finding bedbugs on his pillow while staying at the Skirvin Hilton in downtown Oklahoma City. He said he ended up sleeping on a couch Saturday night instead of his bed, but didn’t get much sleep  and had a sore back.

Hilton and environmental health inspectors from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department both called it an isolated case and said the room was being treated. Nevertheless, the hotel chain apologized Tuesday.

“The comfort of our guests is a top priority, and we are very sorry to hear about Mr. Irving’s stay,” Hilton said. “Since bedbugs can be easily transmitted anywhere and are often lodged in luggage or on clothing, our hotel maintains high levels of vigilance and we perform regular inspections.”

Irving said he had just three hours of sleep the night before the game and felt nauseated.

“Just imagine how freaked out you’d be if you saw friggin’ five big bedbugs just sitting on your pillow,” he said. “I woke up itching, and I’m just looking around and I’m like, ‘Are you serious right now?’ It was 3 a.m., and I was so tired at that point.”

Skirvin Hilton
Skirvin Hilton – Oklahoma City

The Skirvin Hilton had not had a bedbug complaint since 2013, and corrective action was taken then. The city-county health agency said it had provided suggestions to treat the room, and the hotel has been cooperative.

“Skirvin Hotel management had already started the process of corrective action, as we were launching an on-site inspection today at the hotel,” the department said.

Adjacent rooms were inspected, and no other signs of bedbugs were noted.

“We actually had the company come out first thing [Monday] morning, and we found it was an isolated case in the one room, and we’re taking the necessary steps to remediate the problem,” a spokesman for the Skirvin Hilton told ESPN.com.

On Tuesday, Terminix jumped into the situation with an offer to Irving and the Cavaliers on its Facebook page:

Dear Kyrie Irving, we have a message to share from our Cleveland branch manager.”Hi Kyrie, we’re sorry to hear about…

Posted by Terminix on Tuesday, February 23, 2016

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