Portland Trail Blazers Fire Broadcaster Over Old Racist Tweets

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On the same day Braiden Bell was hired as the Portland Trail Blazers’ new television play-by-play broadcaster, the team fired him after a series of racist and sexist tweets from his teenage years surfaced. The tweets, posted in 2012 and 2013, revealed Bell, then 15 years old, using derogatory language to describe women and mocking Asian individuals.

Old Posts Spark Immediate Action

The tweets, which were still visible on Bell’s social media account when accessed by news outlets, included offensive remarks that were later protected by the account owner. A journalist from KGW uncovered these posts and reported them to the Trail Blazers, leading to Bell’s swift dismissal.

Despite no recent objectionable posts being found, the Trail Blazers took no leniency. In a statement, the team condemned Bell’s old tweets as a “clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations.” The Trail Blazers emphasized their zero-tolerance policy for racist, sexist, or harmful comments, stating that Bell’s social media history did not meet their standards for the play-by-play role.

Statement on Values and Expectations

“The play-by-play role carries a long legacy of excellence, on the broadcast and in character, and we hold that standard without exception,” the team said. “We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City.” The team reiterated their commitment to ensuring that all members of Rip City feel welcome and safe, promising to find a broadcaster who reflects these values.

Bell has not publicly responded to his firing, and his agent referred questions to the team when contacted by KGW. The incident has sparked discussions about the handling of past social media behavior in professional sports and the importance of upholding inclusive values in public-facing roles.

Source: The Gateway Pundit

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claire.thomson