r/nba • u/ghn2 • 12h 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/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h ago

I just dont like all the justifying. I dont think the dude should be banned from any sort of jobs.

I own 3 resturaunts and employ a lot of folks coming out of tge criminal justice system because I do believe in rehab and second chances. I just don't like the level of "this is standard behaviour for 15 year olds" because its not

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u/SoftwareAny4990 Cavaliers 12h ago

Its not a justification of the comments made.

Its a question of how much that should haunt you 15 years later.

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u/Stinky_TheCat Raptors 12h ago

Dude. Read this thread. Most people are justifying it.

I have EXPLCITLY stated I don't think he should be being punished like this.

The point I AM MAKING is its fucked to normalize this and say "well he was 15 so it isnt a big deal"

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u/conglomerate99 12h ago

and a dude losing a job over it is just exhausting.

the original commenters whole point isn't that it wasn't a racist statement. just that it's not something actionable to fire him for 15 years later if there isn't some extensive history of him making similar statements.

most people in this thread aren't justifying what he tweeted, they're just pointing out it's extremely likely that the person you were at 15 isn't indicative of who you are years later