Indiana native John Mellencamp has expressed his disapproval of Pat McAfee's courtside antics during Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks. The rock star and Indiana native took to social media on Thursday, May 29, 2025, to voice his "embarrassment" over what he perceived as poor sportsmanship.

During a timeout in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game, McAfee, a former Indianapolis Colts punter, was given a microphone to energize the home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He proceeded to call out several celebrity Knicks fans in attendance, including director Spike Lee and actors Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet. The crowd responded with loud boos as McAfee exclaimed, "Let's send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears ringing!"

Mellencamp, who was also present at the game, didn't directly name McAfee in his statement but alluded to the incident. "I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don't know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team – and in turn, support our team," Mellencamp wrote on X, accompanied by a photo of himself and his girlfriend. "The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it's poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life."

Mellencamp concluded his message with an apology, stating, "On behalf of most Hoosiers, I would like to apologize for our poor behavior. I'm sure the Pacers had nothing to do with this smackdown."

McAfee appeared to acknowledge Mellencamp's comments, responding to the post with "I am 'somebody.'"

Mellencamp's criticism has sparked a debate about the line between enthusiastic fan support and disrespectful behavior. Some argue that McAfee's actions were simply a way to fire up the home crowd and create a more intense atmosphere, while others, like Mellencamp, believe that it crossed the line into poor sportsmanship and was not in line with "Hoosier Hospitality." Ben Stiller responded to the incident by calling the speech "weird".

The Pacers won Game 4 by a score of 130-121, taking a 3-1 lead in the series. Tyrese Haliburton had a standout performance, recording a triple-double with 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds.