The Portland Trail Blazers fired their newly hired lead TV announcer, Braiden Bell, just hours after announcing his appointment on Thursday. The 29-year-old was let go after local media uncovered offensive social media posts he made as a teenager between 2012 and 2014.
In one from December 2012, he wrote, "I'm not racist at all.. But not gonna lie.. Asian people piss me off! Hahaha #Honest." Another from July 2013 stated, "no blacks either. #racist." Additional posts included disparaging remarks about women.
Bell had been brought over from the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury to replace veteran Kevin Calabro. He was set to become the youngest primary play-by-play broadcaster in the NBA. Instead, he lost the job before calling a single game for the Blazers.
The team's reaction was immediate. Executives terminated Bell that same evening, skipping any administrative leave. They issued an official statement emphasizing their core values.
"The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments," the statement read. "Social media posts made by our recently announced play-by-play broadcaster are in clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with this broadcaster."
The statement also contained an apology to fans. "We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City," it continued. "We believe strongly that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe."
Reaction on social media was divided. Some critics argued the team overreacted to tweets written by a teenager over a decade ago. One user questioned if the posts reflected who Bell is as an adult today, asking, "Do ppl even care or do we just want blood?"
Another accused the franchise of "virtue signaling" and destroying a career over past mistakes. The Blazers have not publicly commented further on these specific criticisms.
The search for a new lead broadcaster begins again immediately. The team's statement promised they "will do better" in their selection process to find a voice that reflects their community values. This off-court drama contrasts sharply with the team's recent performance.
On the floor, the Blazers are in excellent form.
The swift action on Bell shows the organization's priority on its public standards, even as the players focus on maintaining their winning momentum in the NBA.
