Embattled Madison Square Garden Company executive chairman and New York Knicks owner James Dolan had to clarify his sentiments to employees on Tuesday following a leaked email sent to workers yesterday tried to explain why neither the business nor team released a statement in support of current ongoing calls for anti-racism solidarity.

Dolan, who has been the principal owner of the NBA's Knicks and NHL's New York Rangers since 1999, told MSG employees, in an email obtained by ESPN's Pablo Torres on Monday, that he felt acting in a way that promoted diversity, among other values, was more important than releasing a statement in the wake of protests across the nation following the death of Minneapolis African-American man George Floyd while in police custody.

Among many professional and amateur sports teams and leagues, the Knicks, like a select few others, stood out as silent in releasing support for anti-racist demonstrations. Employees, according to Torres, were reportedly “furious” at Dolan's silence, and in response to the email organized an employee-only meeting.

Dolan tried to quash concerns from employees in a second email. According to SNY's Ian Begley, in the second email Dolan attempted to clarify his remarks, saying “we vehemently condemn and reject racism against anyone, period. It is against every value that we hold dear.”

Dolan had already been under fire in the past several months due to an incident stemming from MSG security preventing longtime season-ticket holder and celebrity Knicks fan, Black award-winning director Spike Lee, from entering what he described was his usual entrance into The World's Most Famous Arena.

Prior to that, MSG security ejected retired NBA power forward and ex-Knick Charles Oakley from a Feb. 8, 2017, Knicks game, later banning him from MSG, with the two parties engaging in lawsuits.