Court Upholds Firing of NBA Announcer Over Controversial Tweet

A federal appeals court has affirmed that Bonneville International Corp. acted within its rights when it terminated Grant Napear, a long-time announcer for the Sacramento Kings, following his controversial tweet during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

The incident began when Napear responded to former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins on Twitter, stating, "ALL LIVES MATTER … EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!" This response was made during a time of heightened national discourse surrounding racial justice after the death of George Floyd.

Napear was suspended the day after his tweet and subsequently fired. He filed a lawsuit claiming that the company had penalized him for expressing personal political views unrelated to his job.

The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Napear, asserting that Bonneville had the right to protect its public image. The court noted that Napear's status as a public figure and the terms of his employment contract, which required him to uphold a high standard of conduct on social media, were pivotal in their decision.

Napear's attorney, Matthew Ruggles, contended that the tweet was a personal expression and not made in a professional capacity, arguing that the matter should be resolved by a jury. Ruggles plans to seek a rehearing and potentially escalate the case to the Supreme Court.

Since his firing, Napear has spent time podcasting and returned to radio in August as a host for Fox Sports Radio in Sacramento. His case highlights the ongoing tensions between personal expression and professional responsibilities in the age of social media.