The Portland Trail Blazers fired newly hired play-by-play television broadcaster Braiden Bell on Thursday after past social media posts resurfaced hours after the team announced his hiring.
“The Portland Trail Blazers have zero tolerance for racist, sexist, or harmful comments,” the team said in a statement Thursday night. “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 posts, first reported by KGW-TV in Portland, were apparently made on X in 2012 and 2013 by an account with Bell’s name, when the 29-year-old was a teenager. The team said it had failed its own standard in the hiring process.
“We did not meet our own bar in this process, and for that we apologize to Blazers fans and to Rip City,” the statement said. “We believe strongly that everyone who is a part of Rip City should feel welcome and safe and we will make sure that our new broadcaster reflects these values. We will do better.”
Bell had been the play-by-play announcer for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and the G League’s Valley Suns. The Trail Blazers had announced his hiring Thursday to replace longtime broadcaster Kevin Calabro.