Trail Blazers Fire New TV Announcer After Racist Posts Resurface Hours After He Was Hired
The team reversed course after resurfaced 2012 posts included anti-Asian remarks and other offensive comments, ending Bell’s hire within hours, officials said.
- On Thursday, the Portland Trail Blazers rescinded their hiring of 29-year-old play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell just hours after announcing the appointment, following discovery of racist and sexist social media posts.
- A KGW-TV reporter unearthed Bell's historical social media activity, revealing misogynistic and racist comments made between 2012 and 2013 when he was a teenager.
- The Blazers issued a statement Thursday night confirming the posts were "in clear violation of team and league policies, as well as our values and expectations." The team stated it would not move forward with Bell.
- Bell was selected to replace veteran Kevin Calabro, who was let go this summer during layoffs implemented by owner Thomas Dundon as part of cost-cutting measures.
- This incident follows the firing of San Antonio Spurs broadcaster Jacob Tobey in July over alleged misconduct, though it remains unclear whether Bell will receive similar opportunities to return to the league.
124 Articles
124 Articles
Announcer Fired Hours After Blazers Hire
When a public-facing hire collapses in hours over old social posts, it is not a culture-war anomaly; it is the foreseeable collision of brand risk management, broadcast standards, and the permanent memory of the internet—where an employer’s duty to its audience can outweigh a candidate’s record of recent good conduct. The Short Version The Trail Blazers terminated their newly named TV play-by-play announcer the same day, citing zero tolerance f…
Fired NBA Staffer Breaks Silence After Deeply Disturbing Tweets Resurface
Braiden Bell, a now-former Portland Trail Blazers play-by-play announcer, has broken his silence after the NBA team fired him over […] The Fired NBA Staffer Breaks Silence After Deeply Disturbing Tweets Resurface first appeared on The Blast
'I can't believe we're still doing this': Clay Travis reacts as Portland Trailblazer employee fired for old social media post
Jan 2, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Detailed view of the Portland Trail Blazers logo against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn ImagesEarlier this week, the Portland Trail Blazers fired a newly hired game announcer for several old social media posts that appeared racial and misogynistic. Potential play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell was dismissed Thursday after comme…
Tulsa World
Dispatch ArgusBlazers hire, fire announcer on same day
NBA NOTEBOOK
Fired NBA Broadcaster Braiden Bell Apologizes After Racist, Misogynistic Posts Surface
Internewscast Internewscast Portland Trail Blazers announcer Braiden Bell has apologized for racist and misogynistic… This Post: Fired NBA Broadcaster Braiden Bell Apologizes After Racist, Misogynistic Posts Surface first appeared on Internewscast
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