Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes is reflecting on his viral moment won CP24 last week, saying he was simply “bored” when he was captured on camera reacting to the news of Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto. CTV News Toronto’s Sean Leathong was reporting live outside the Raptors practice facility at the OVO Athletic Centre on Sept. 25 when Barnes was captured eating lunch and making several exaggerated facial expressions between bites. The clip was widely shared across social media, including by a number of major U.S. media outlets. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Barnes reflected on the viral interaction, saying he noticed the camera and decided to hang around while Leathong delivered his report on Kawhi Leonard’s new multi-year contract with Toronto. The two-time all-star said the moment was not planned and that he had no intention of getting in front of the camera. “It was not staged at all,” Barnes said. “I was bored, to be honest.” ‘I don’t want to be on that’ Barnes said he had no interest in actually appearing in the report when Leathong offered to interview him prior to going live. The Raptors forward said he told Leathong to carry on with his report and not worry about him standing in the background. “Yo, just do your thing. Don’t worry about me back here,” Barnes recalled telling Leathong. “I don’t want to be on that. Don’t interview me. Just do your segment that you were gonna do,” Barnes said. The two-time all-star was then seen behind Leathong during the live hit, eating lunch and making a series of exaggerated facial expressions as the reporter discussed Leonard’s return to Toronto. “I was actually about to go somewhere,” Barnes said. The interaction quickly spread across social media, with the Raptors’ official X account joining in on the fun and Barnes later resharing the clip on Instagram. Barnes and Leathong had previously discussed the moment immediately after the live hit. Leathong said he asked Barnes if he wanted to do an interview, but Barnes declined and told him he would stay in the background. Looking back on the moment, Barnes appeared pleased with how it turned out. “I think we had a great interaction,” he said. “I think it went pretty viral. Went pretty well.” The Raptors open their preseason schedule Oct. 3 before beginning the regular season Oct. 21.
