Portland Trail Blazers Fire Braiden Bell Hours After Hiring Due to Past Posts

Braiden Bell's Sudden Dismissal by the Trail Blazers

In a shocking turn of events, the Portland Trail Blazers announced the firing of Braiden Bell, the newly appointed play-by-play announcer, just hours after his hiring was confirmed. This decision stems from the discovery of racist and misogynistic posts that Bell made as a teenager, which surfaced on his social media account.

Social Media Controversy

Bell, who is now 29 years old, had his past tweets highlighted by news outlet KGW. The offensive posts were made in 2012 and 2013, during his teenage years, and contradicted the values upheld by the Trail Blazers organization. Once hired, the team reiterated their commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment, stating in a public statement:

"The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments. 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."

The Blazers emphasized that they did not uphold their own standards during the hiring process and expressed sincere apologies to their fans, stating, "We believe strongly that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe. We will make sure that our new broadcaster reflects these values."

The Impact on the Broadcasting Team

Prior to joining the Blazers, Braiden Bell had experience as a play-by-play announcer for the Phoenix Mercury and the G-League's Valley Sun. His turbulent start with the Blazers comes at a time when the organization is undergoing a significant overhaul of its broadcasting team. Longtime broadcaster Kevin Calabro and several other veteran broadcasters were not retained after new ownership took over.

As the Blazers prepare for their upcoming season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 21, they face the challenge of quickly finding a replacement for Bell, aiming to solidify a broadcasting voice that aligns with their principles.