NBA Bobby Brown apologizes after graffiti on Great Wall

Bobby Brown took a photo of his graffiti and posted it onto Sina Weibo with words reading "Had a blast at the Great Wall of China today". [Photo: Sina Weibo]

Bobby Brown, point guard for the Houston Rockets, apologized on Tuesday after he posted a photo of his graffiti on the Great Wall onto Sina Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, Beijing Youth Daily reports.

On Oct.10, players from the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans visited the Mutianyu Great Wall before their scheduled preseason NBA game in Beijing on Oct.12 at The LeSports Center.

During the visit, Bobby Brown left his name and jersey number on the bricks of the Great Wall. He took a photo of the graffiti and posted it onto Weibo with words reading "Had a blast at the Great Wall of China today".

Bobby's behavior triggered an online uproar as Chinese netizens said that he vandalized Chinese cultural relics. He has since apologized to the public via his Weibo account on Oct. 11. In Bobby's words, it was most unconsciously done and he longs for the forgiveness from the public.

Houston Rockets player Bobby Brown stretches before training.  [Photo/Agencies]

Bobby has since deleted all Weibo posts relating to his graffiti and the apology by Tuesday night. Comments about the graffiti, however, still can be seen under his latest Weibo post, says Beijing Youth Daily.

In accordance with Article 18 of the Regulation on the Protection of the Great Wall, marking the Great Wall with graffiti is prohibited.

"No matter who you are, you should not scratch graffiti on the Great Wall. As a world cultural relic, the Great Wall needs protection from both Chinese people and foreign tourists", says a manager with the Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Service Co.,Ltd., reported Beijing Youth Daily.

For the convenience of tourists leaving something as a memento, officials of the scenic area have designated specific "graffiti zones" where tourists can leave their messages instead of leaving them on ancient stone or bricks.