Blazers announcer fired for socal media posts seeks reinstatement

Play-by-play announcer Braiden Bell is asking the Portland Trail Blazers to reconsider their decision to dismiss him. The organization fired Bell just eight hours after hiring him to replace Kevin Calabro following the discovery of offensive social media posts he wrote as a teenager. Through his attorney, Bell has formally requested reinstatement, arguing that posts made 14 years ago should not overshadow his recent personal and professional growth.

Bell apologized publicly on social media, expressing regret for the harmful comments written when he was 15 years old. The Trail Blazers emphasized their zero-tolerance stance regarding racist, sexist, and harmful comments, and they confirmed to Front Office Sports that they stand by their decision.