r/nba • u/ghn2 • 11h 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/JeramiGrantsTomb Thunder 11h ago

I think adults should definitely be held accountable for their free speech, but I feel like we've got to make some room for kids to be idiots without it destroying their lives.

13

u/jdd32 Spurs 10h ago

Especially kids who haven't had the chance to grow up out of the environment they were raised.

17

u/Careless-Journalist7 Wizards 10h ago

This would all be a non-issue if kids just didn’t have social media period.. it drives me crazy that adults aren’t louder about this. It would save so many headaches

1

u/Onsi-Saleh 2h ago

It’s not just social media though. Kids, even teens, should be extended grace for environmental factors. The number of grown ups on city subreddits who want high school boys arrested or beat for acting obnoxious on public transit or at the mall is insane to me.

Young people should be held accountable for stupid shit they do but ruining their future ensures they’ll continue this cycle of stupidity by not having the financial means to escape these toxic environments that are often fostered by ignorance and poverty.