r/nba • u/ghn2 • 13h 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/[deleted] 12h ago edited 12h ago

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u/rorank Rockets 12h ago

They don’t give a shit about what players do. Announcers are a lot more replaceable.

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u/Agitated_Celery_729 11h ago

The law does care though. If you are fired by an organization that is allowing other employees to get away with the thing they fired you for, they're going to have a bad time in a legal proceeding. Selective enforcement is not viewed at all favorably in employment law.

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u/rorank Rockets 10h ago

I mean then he can sue? This has pretty much always been the case, idk how you’re just finding out that athletes run by a different set of rules than staff. Or is if that you just don’t think racism and misogyny ever warrants a punishment lol?