Sac Radio: KHTK Suspends Grant Napear After BLM Comment

Grant Napear and Demarcus Cousins

NBA Sacramento Kings play-by-play announcer Grant Napear was placed on administrative leave by his radio station Monday after tweeting “All Lives Matter,” a controversial phrase associated with belittling the Black Lives Matter movement.

“All Lives Matter… Every Single One!” the 60-year-old Napear tweeted Sunday after former Kings star Demarcus Cousins asked the KHTK 1140 AM radio host for his view on the Black Lives Matter movement.  KHTK is owned by Bonneville.

The Black Lives Matter movement began in 2013 as a campaign against systemic racism and violence toward black people, and it is the focal point of protests in response to the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man who was killed by a white police officer last week in Minneapolis.

“I’m not as educated on BLM as I thought I was,” Napear said in an apology published by The Sacramento Bee. “I had no idea that when I said ‘All Lives Matter’ that it was counter to what BLM is trying to get across.”

The Kings did not respond to a request for comment.

Hey!!!! How are you? Thought you forgot about me. Haven't heard from you in years. ALL LIVES MATTER...EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! https://t.co/DfzKl3w0jm

— Grant Napear (@GrantNapearshow) June 1, 2020

Napear hosts his own radio show on KHTK and has been the Kings announcer since 1988. The station said it is investigating Napear’s tweet.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Napear also was mired in controversy after defending Donald Sterling, saying the former Clippers owner couldn’t be racist because he employed black people.