Federal Court Upholds Firing of Kings Announcer Grant Napear
A federal appeals court determined on Wednesday that Bonneville International Corp. acted lawfully when it terminated veteran Sacramento Kings announcer Grant Napear due to a tweet from 2020 that stated “All Lives Matter.” This ruling supports a previous court’s decision to dismiss his wrongful-termination lawsuit.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco backed the broadcaster’s former employer. This ruling brings an end, at least for now, to a dispute that arose after Napear was let go from both of his positions within just 48 hours during the protests that followed the death of George Floyd.
It all started when former Kings player DeMarcus Cousins reached out to Napear on Twitter, now called X, asking, “What’s your take on BLM?” Napear, who was off work in May 2020 and following the protest coverage, expressed his appreciation for hearing from Cousins. He then tweeted, “ALL LIVES MATTER … EVERY SINGLE ONE!!!”
Napear was employed by Bonneville as a radio host for KTHK and as the Kings’ play-by-play announcer. The company suspended him the next day and then fired him shortly after.
The court panel noted that Napear was a public figure, pointing out that his employment contract included specific terms regarding his online conduct. He had agreed to uphold “a high standard of care and level of responsibility” while on social media, as his actions could impact Bonneville’s “public image and reputation.” The judges concluded that Napear’s tweet fell within the realm of his professional responsibilities due to his public persona.
In response, Napear’s attorney, Matthew Ruggles, challenged this conclusion.
“Grant Napear owned that Twitter account and had made around 38,500 tweets before posting ‘All Lives Matter…Every Single One.’ That tweet wasn’t related to his job, made during work hours, or part of any radio show,” Ruggles stated. “It was a personal expression by Grant, and I believe that’s a matter for a jury, not the court, to decide.”
Ruggles indicated plans to seek a rehearing before the full appeals court, and if unsuccessful, he aims to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Napear faced defeat at both judicial levels. U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd, appointed by Obama, dismissed the case without a trial. The appeal, upheld by Judges Bridget Bade, Danielle Forrest, and Lawrence VanDyke—each appointed by Trump—maintained that ruling.
Following his firing, Napear spent five years working in podcasting. He made a comeback to the airwaves last August, taking the reins as a daily host on Fox Sports Radio in Sacramento, rivaling KHTK.
He isn’t the first broadcaster to lose his job due to social media; for example, a Dallas radio station let go of former major league pitcher Mike Bacsik in 2010 after a controversial tweet regarding “Mexicans in San Antonio.”
After the ruling, Napear’s case sparked renewed discussions online, as social media users shared their thoughts on both his firing and the court’s judgment.
