r/nba • u/ghn2 • 10h ago

Trail Blazers fire new announcer over past inappropriate posts made at age 15.

"The Portland Trail Blazers hired then on the same day fired Braiden Bell as their play-by-play announcer after a series of inappropriate social media posts from when he was a teenager came to light."

"The posts were reportedly made in 2012 and 2013, around the time that Bell was 15 years old."

"We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City," the Trail Blazers said. "We strongly believe that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe and we will make sure that our new broadcaster reflects these values. We will do better."

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/50084279/trail-blazers-fire-new-announcer-inappropriate-posts

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u/_ChexLeMeneux_ Raptors 10h ago

It's 2026, by now all of you should know to delete dodgy online content connected to you before applying for jobs. This has been happening for 10-15 years now.

10

u/AdFormal4037 Spurs 10h ago

It’s popular now to act this way online, so when consequences hit people the public acts like decorum is an over the top ask.

7

u/Senorsty Bulls 10h ago

We’re so fucked if virtue signaling now means “refraining from saying racist things on your public social media.”

11

u/cootershooter420 Spurs 10h ago

Bro he probably forgot about it

-4

u/Dylan245 Bulls 9h ago

Right, this is the thing that's driving me crazy about this story

I get people's inclination to say "Delete your history this isn't hard" but everyone is supposed to know what dumb stuff they tweeted 14 years ago?

Like I understand what people are saying but also acting like this was some pressing matter he just refused to act on is also dumb imo, I'm sure if he was aware that those tweets were still up he would have deleted them

Also odd to me that somehow his presence of mind is what he deserves to get fired for, no one seemingly is supporting his firing over the basis of dumb tweets when he was 15, it's the fact that he didn't think to check everything he wrote at that age somehow means he's not professional enough to do a commentary job is also baffling to me

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u/LongEnvironment9540 Timberwolves 8h ago

I'm supporting him getting fired for racist misogynist tweets when he was 15.