Editing Spike Lee (section)

== Personal life ==
=== Marriage ===
Lee met his wife, [[attorney at law|attorney]] [[Tonya Lewis Lee]], in 1992, and they were married a year later in New York.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rothkranz, Lindzy |url=http://heavy.com/sports/2015/02/tonya-lewis-lee-spikes-wife-kids-producer-lawyer-equality/ |title=Tonya Lewis Lee, Spike's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |date=February 13, 2015 |publisher=Heavy}}</ref> They have two children.<ref name="timesatchel" /><ref>{{cite web |author=am |url=http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2009/10/spike-lee-and-kids-attend-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-premiere/ |title=Black Celebrity Kids, babies, and their Parents » SPIKE LEE AND KIDS ATTEND MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS IT PREMIERE |publisher=Blackcelebkids.Com |date=October 27, 2009 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118032015/http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2009/10/spike-lee-and-kids-attend-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-premiere/ |archive-date=January 18, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Spike Lee does the T-shirt Toss at The Liberty vs Aces WNBA Semifinals, September 29, 2024.jpg|alt=Filmmaker and Basketball Superfan Spike Lee on the basketball court during a break in the game play, helping throw T-shirts into the crowd at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, NY|thumb|Spike Lee takes part in the T-shirt toss at The [[WNBA]] Semifinals, at the [[New York Liberty|NY Liberty]] vs [[Las Vegas Aces|LV Aces]] game on September 29, 2024]]
When asked by the [[BBC]] whether he believed in God, Lee said: "Yes. I have faith that there is a higher being. All this cannot be an accident."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Papamichael |first1=Stella |title=Calling the Shots: No.21: Spike Lee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/callingtheshots/spike_lee.shtml |access-date=March 23, 2017 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> Lee continues to maintain an office in [[Fort Greene]], [[Brooklyn]], but he and his wife live on the [[Upper East Side]] of [[Manhattan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/features/4906/|title=Real Estate 2001: Neighborhood Profiles - Nymag|first=Boris|last=Kachka|website=New York Magazine|date=March 12, 2001 }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
Spike Lee is a fan of the [[New York Knicks]] basketball team, the [[New York Yankees]] baseball team (although he grew up a [[New York Mets]] fan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2015/10/27/spike-lee-grand-marshal-nyc-marathon/74705686/|title= Spike Lee has love, respect for NYC Marathon runners|editor=Berg, Aimee|date=October 27, 2015|publisher=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=June 11, 2022}}</ref>), the [[New York Rangers]] ice hockey team, and the English football club [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]].<ref name="arse" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nhl/story/spike-lee-new-york-knicks-nba-lockout-now-a-new-york-rangers-fan-seen-buying-gear-in-front-row-madison-square-garden-102911 |title=Spike Lee makes the switch to NHL |last1=Oct 29 |first1=foxsports |last2=ET |first2=2011 at 1:00a |date=October 29, 2011 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US|access-date=March 13, 2020}}</ref> One of the documentaries in [[ESPN]]'s ''[[30 for 30]]'' series, ''Winning Time: [[Reggie Miller]] vs. The New York Knicks'', focuses partly on Lee's interaction with Miller at Knicks games in [[Madison Square Garden]]. In June 2003, Lee sought an injunction against [[Spike TV]] to prevent them from using his nickname; he claimed that because of his fame, viewers would think he was associated with the channel.<ref>{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Allison |date=April 21, 2003 |title=TNN Hopes Mainly Men Will Watch "Spike TV"s |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA293348.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506102313/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/148961-TNN_Hopes_Mainly_Men_Will_Watch_Spike_TV_.php |archive-date=May 6, 2009 |access-date=August 31, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nexttv.com/|title=Nexttv |website=NextTV|access-date=December 20, 2021|archive-date=June 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608055231/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6566492.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2961726.stm |work=BBC News |title=Spike sues over channel name |date=June 4, 2003 |access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref> In March 2020, Lee and the security team at Madison Square Garden had a disagreement over which entrance to use to see the New York Knicks; Lee stated he would not attend the rest of the games for the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/knicks-call-spike-lee-employee-entrance-dispute-laughable-n1148401|title= Knicks call Spike Lee employee entrance dispute 'laughable'|website= [[NBC]]|date= March 3, 2020|access-date= August 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/spike-lee-new-york-knicks-feud-employee-entrance-james-dolan-1490336|title= Here's Why Spike Lee and the New York Knicks Are Feuding Right Now|website= [[Newsweek]]|date= March 3, 2020|access-date= August 4, 2020}}</ref> Spike Lee has also frequented [[New York Liberty]] games at [[Barclays Center]], sitting courtside during the [[2024 WNBA playoffs]] in a [[Sabrina Ionescu]] Jersey<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-29 |title=Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu Have Drastically Different Spike Lee Experiences During Aces-Liberty |url=https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/kelsey-plum-and-sabrina-ionescu-have-drastically-different-spike-lee-experiences-during-aces-liberty-01j8zwdd3mh7 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Women's Fastbreak On SI |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Politics ===
[[File:Lozupone-sanders-wsqp-rally4.png|thumb|left|Lee speaking at a rally in support of the [[Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, 2016|presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders]] in [[Washington Square Park]], April 2016]]
In May 1999, the ''[[New York Post]]'' reported that Lee made an inflammatory comment about [[Charlton Heston]], president of the [[National Rifle Association of America]] (NRA), while speaking to reporters at the [[Cannes Film Festival]]. Lee was quoted as saying the National Rifle Association should be disbanded and, of Heston, someone should "Shoot him with a [[Charter Arms Bulldog|.44 Bull Dog]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/05/28/spike-lee-says-remark-about-shooting-heston-was-a-joke/ |title=Spike Lee Says Remark About Shooting Heston Was A Joke – Chicago Tribune |publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com |date=May 28, 1999 |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518223804/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-05-28/news/9905290188_1_nra-president-rash-of-school-shootings-remarks |archive-date=May 18, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-08-et-hestonletters8-story.html |title=Heston was always a man of his words |work=Los Angeles Times|date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113133007/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/08/entertainment/et-hestonletters8 |archive-date=November 13, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lee said he intended it as a joke. He was responding to coverage about whether Hollywood was responsible for school shootings. "The problem is guns", he said.<ref name="Salon" /> [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[United States House of Representatives|House]] [[Majority Leader]] [[Dick Armey]] condemned Lee as having "nothing to offer the debate on school violence except more violence and more hate".<ref name="Salon">{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/ent/log/1999/05/28/spike/index.html |title=Living foot to mouth |work=Salon.com |date=May 28, 1999 |access-date=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623115810/https://www.salon.com/ent/log/1999/05/28/spike/index.html |archive-date=June 23, 2008}}</ref>

In October 2005, Lee responded to a [[CNN]] anchor's question as to whether the government intentionally ignored the plight of black Americans during the [[Hurricane Katrina#Federal government|2005 Hurricane Katrina catastrophe]] by saying, "It's not too far-fetched. I don't put anything past the United States government. I don't find it too far-fetched that they tried to displace all the black people out of [[New Orleans]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QroaAAAAIBAJ&dq=far-fetched+that+they+tried+to+displace+all+the+black+people&pg=6597,2786253 |title=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Google News Archive Search |website=news.google.com}}</ref> In later comments, Lee cited the government's past including the [[Tuskegee Syphilis Study]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sootoday.com/local-entertainment/all-about-spike-lees-latest-film-147237|title=All about Spike Lee's latest film|website=SooToday.com|date=August 14, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7j0SqSn14A | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/R7j0SqSn14A| archive-date=October 28, 2021|title=Clip of Lee expressing his views of the Hurricane Katrina and Tuskegee matters on ''Real Time with Bill Maher'' | date=March 6, 2007|publisher=YouTube |access-date=June 13, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In May 2020, Lee published a three-minute short film, ''NEW YORK NEW YORK'', on [[Instagram]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spike Lee made an emotional 3-minute film dedicated to New York City |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/08/entertainment/spike-lee-film-tribute-new-york-city/index.html |date=May 8, 2020 |website=CNN |access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref> that was later featured on the city's official website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visittheusa.com/experience/spike-lees-new-york-city|title= Experience: Spike Lee New York City|website= visittheusa.com|access-date= November 8, 2020}}</ref> Lee celebrated [[Joe Biden]]'s victory over [[Donald Trump]] in the [[2020 United States Presidential election|2020 presidential election]] with champagne amid a crowd on the streets of [[Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://popculture.com/trending/news/watch-spike-lee-pops-bottle-champagne-brooklyn-donald-trump-loss-joe-biden/ |title=Watch: Spike Lee Pops a Bottle of Champagne in Middle of Brooklyn Street to Celebrate Joe Biden's Win|website=PopCulture |date=November 7, 2020 |access-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108011229/https://popculture.com/trending/news/watch-spike-lee-pops-bottle-champagne-brooklyn-donald-trump-loss-joe-biden |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lee endorsed [[Kamala Harris]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election]] and spoke at one of her campaign rallies on October 24, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-22 |title=VP Kamala Harris in Atlanta for rally with former President Obama, Spike Lee |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/harris-joined-obama-tyler-perry-bruce-springsteen-atlanta-rally |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=FOX 5 Atlanta |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Tyler Perry to join Kamala Harris at metro Atlanta event |url=https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2024/10/24/spike-lee-samuel-l-jackson-tyler-perry-join-kamala-harris-metro-atlanta-event/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Atlanta News First |language=en}}</ref>

=== Legal issues ===
In March 2012, after the [[killing of Trayvon Martin]], Spike Lee was one of many people who used Twitter to circulate a message that claimed to give the home address of the shooter [[George Zimmerman]]. The address turned out to be incorrect, causing the real occupants, Elaine and David McClain, to leave home and stay at a hotel due to numerous death threats.<ref name=tsgtwit /> Lee issued an apology and reached an agreement with the McClains, which reportedly included "compensation", with their attorney stating "The McClains' claim is fully resolved".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/28/justice/florida-teen-spike-lee/?hpt=us_c2 |title=Spike Lee apologizes for retweeting wrong Zimmerman address |work=CNN |date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-trayvon-martin-lee-settlement-20120329,0,7063902.story |title=Trayvon Martin: Spike Lee settles with family forced to flee home |first=Michael |last=Muskal |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 29, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2012}}</ref> Nevertheless, in November 2013, the McClains filed a negligence lawsuit which accused Lee of "encouraging a dangerous mob mentality among his Twitter followers, as well as the public-at-large".<ref name=tsgtwit>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/spike-lee-tweet-lawsuit-675413 |title=Elderly Couple Sues Spike Lee Over Tweet |work=[[The Smoking Gun]] |date=November 8, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/spike-lee-sued-over-george-zimmerman-tweet-165719017--abc-news-topstories.html |title=Spike Lee Sued Over George Zimmerman Tweet |work=ABC News |author=Colleen Curry |date=November 11, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref> The lawsuit, which a court filing reportedly valued at $1.2 million, alleged that the couple suffered "injuries and damages" that continued after the initial settlement up through [[State of Florida v. George Zimmerman|Zimmerman's trial]] in 2013.<ref name=tsgtwit /> A Seminole County judge dismissed the McClains' suit, agreeing with Lee that the issue had already been settled previously.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centrictv.com/entertainment/articles/2014/08/08/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-against-spike-lee-over-george-zimmerman-tweet.html |title=Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Spike Lee Over George Zimmerman Tweet – What's Good – Entertainment – Articles – Centric |first=Centric |last=TV }}</ref>