Sacramento Kings TV Announcer Resigns Over ‘All Lives Matter’ Tweet

Matt Barnes and Chris Webber, two other former players for the Kings, were among those who sharply rebuked Napear.

“If it came across as dumb I apologize,” Napear said in another tweet on Sunday night. “That was not my intent. That’s how I was raised. It has been engrained in me since I can remember. I’ve been doing more listening than talking the past few days. I believe the past few days will change this country for the better!”

Napear, who was often critical of Cousins during his time with the team, also told the Sacramento Bee in an interview this week that he was “not as educated on B.L.M. as I thought I was.” He added, “I had no idea that when I said, ‘All Lives Matter,’ that it was counter to what B.L.M. was trying to get across.”

The fallout, though, was swift. Bonneville International said Napear’s comments “do not reflect the views or values” of the company. The company also referenced George Floyd, the 46-year-old black man whose death last week after he was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white Minneapolis police officer had ignited recent protests.

“In the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death and the events of the last several days,” the company said, “it is crucial that we communicate the tremendous respect that we have for the black community and any other groups or individuals who have cause to feel marginalized.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/sports/basketball/grant-napear-george-floyd-kings.html