Fired NBA Announcer Loses Free Speech Case Over 2020 BLM Tweet
A federal appeals court upheld the firing of Sacramento Kings broadcaster Grant Napear for tweeting "All Lives Matter" in 2020, ruling that employers may restrict political expression when it affects their reputation.
Grant Napear, who spent 31 years as the voice of the Sacramento Kings, lost both his radio hosting position and play-by-play duties after a single tweet cost him his entire career, according to Daniel Farr writing in New York Post.
The controversy erupted in May 2020 when former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins, a Black former Kings star then with the Los Angeles Lakers, asked Napear on Twitter what his position was on Black Lives Matter. Napear responded that he was pleased to hear from Cousins, then added: “ALL LIVES MATTER … EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!”
Within 48 hours, Bonneville International Corp. had suspended and then fired Napear from his positions at KTHK radio and as the Kings’ announcer.
Court Sides With Employer
The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled Thursday that Bonneville acted within its rights to terminate Napear over concerns about its public reputation. The three-judge panel pointed to Napear’s status as a public figure and specific language in his employment contract requiring him to maintain a high standard of care on social media that could affect the company’s image.
The judges determined that California law does not prevent employers from restricting employees’ political expression when it impacts the employer’s public reputation. They further concluded that Napear’s Twitter activity involved his celebrity status and therefore fell within his professional capacity.
Attorney Vows Appeal
Matthew Ruggles, Napear’s attorney, strongly contested the ruling. He emphasized that Napear personally owned his Twitter account, had published approximately 38,500 tweets prior to the controversial post, and that the statement was not made on-air, during work hours, or as part of any broadcast.
Ruggles told The San Francisco Chronicle that the issue of whether the tweet constituted personal expression should be decided by a jury, not the court. He announced plans to seek a rehearing before the full appeals court and, if necessary, petition the Supreme Court.
The ruling upheld a decision by US District Judge Dale Drozd, an Obama appointee, to dismiss Napear’s lawsuit without trial.
Career After Cancellation
Following his termination, Napear spent five years podcasting before returning to radio in August as a daily host on Fox Sports Radio in Sacramento.
The broadcaster had previously courted controversy by defending disgraced former LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling and later calling former broadcast partner Doug Christie a “coward” for failing to support him after his 2020 dismissal.
Napear is not the first sports broadcaster to lose employment over social media posts. Former major league pitcher Mike Bacsik was terminated by a Dallas radio station in 2010 following a disparaging post about Mexicans in San Antonio.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between employee free speech rights and employer brand protection in an era where social media statements can trigger immediate professional consequences.
With information from New York Post
