The film was released to protests from many reviewers, including Joe Klein in New York magazine; it was openly stated in several newspapers that the film could incite black audiences to riot. No such riots occurred, and Lee criticized white reviewers for assuming that black audiences were incapable of restraining themselves while watching a fictional motion picture.

One of many questions at the end of the film is whether Mookie 'does the right thing' when he throws the garbage can through the window, thus inciting the riot that destroys Sal's pizzeria. The question is directly raised by the contradictory quotations that end the film, one advocating non-violence, the other advocating violent self-defense in response to oppression. Spike Lee himself, however, has stated that only white viewers ask this question. Lee believes the key point is that Mookie was angry at the death of Radio Raheem, and that viewers who question the riot's justification are implicitly valuing white property over the life of a black man. Mookie tells Sal to "Motherfuck a window. Radio Raheem is dead". However, some of the other characters in the film, such as Da Mayor, Mother Sister and Mister Seņor, disapproved of the riot.

How did the film develop that Mookie cared a bit for Radio Raheem? Did they hang out together? No. It's not a matter of valuing "white property" over a man's death it's the reality that Radio Raheem's death connects meaningfully to Ray's Pizza, it doesn't. Bottom line is that controversy sells more tickets and Spike Lee went for the cash.

That doesn't take away from the tremendous performances and the beautiful cinematography, but it is what it is.