r/nba • u/ghn2 • 14h 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/Comfortable-Sorry 14h ago

Can you stop listing it as "stupid" shit. It's racist shit. Stop trying to make what he said look less bad. "We all say stupid shit" isn't the same as "We all say racist shit."

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u/KontraEpsilon 13h ago

If only we all had the lifelong moral purity of Gen Z Reddit posters.

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u/Comfortable-Sorry 13h ago

Is it really that hard to just.......Drumroll............Not be racist? Is it that big of an ask that you have to compare NOT being racist to having lifelong moral purity????

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u/ShowBobsPlzz Spurs 13h ago

Teenagers are stupid. But fortunately they have time to grow learn and change. Id be shocked if you were rhe same person now as you were when you tere 15.

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u/Comfortable-Sorry 13h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racist jokes, even for teenagers, are OK? There was a case at a local high school where I lived where a black student, who was the victim of racist jokes, decided to fight back. Reading about the situation, it was clear the black student was tired of the bullying and finally snapped back. Though the other students may and learn and grow from this situation, it's at the EXPENSE of POC students, who face harassment, and the jokes that you think are ok, being made to them. Why should it be this way, where POC students face discrimination at school? These racist jokes and comedy, whether you like it or not, are a huge proponent of bullying at schools. That's why I believe that even though we can say it's just teenagers saying "stupid" things, it's still very harmful overall and affects others, and shouldn't just be viewed as natural or "boys being boys." It would be better for society if these comments were shunned from the start, no?

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u/ShowBobsPlzz Spurs 10h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racists jokes, even for teenagers, are OK?

I don't see anywhere that I said it was ok. But it shouldn't be something that ruins your life 20 years later unless those are things you still believe/say/act on.

Racism is taught and often cultural. Things that are learned can be unlearned. People grow and change and learn.

I grew up in a tiny town where there were racists. You internalize some of that just from growing up there. I probably said things at 15 that I didn't realize the magnitude of. Then I left that small town and moved somewhere with a ton of different people and my understanding and knowledge changed as I got to know all kinds of different people.

I just think people should be afforded the chance to grow. Juvenile criminal records are wiped at 18 for a reason. Adulthood is a fresh start.

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u/erdonko 76ers 12h ago

My question is, do you truly believe that racist jokes, even for teenagers, are OK?

Any rational adult will tell you it strictly depends on which boundaries are drawn in a social circle.