Charlotte Hornets Suspend Announcer Who Used N-Word Instead of ‘Nuggets’ in a Tweet
The Charlotte Hornets indefinitely suspended a radio announcer who claimed he accidentally used a racial slur on social media. John Focke said his use of the N-word is an unfortunate typo as he commented on the Utah Jazz-Denver Nuggets playoff series and the 1-on-1 battle between stars Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray.
“Shot making in his Jazz-[N-word] game is awesome! Murray and Mitchell going back and forth what a game!” his tweet said.
Focke, a first-year announcer and podcast host for the Hornets, apologized. He previously worked games for the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
The Hornets announced Tuesday that the incident was under investigation. “The Charlotte Hornets are aware of the recent social media post by radio broadcaster John Focke,” the team said in a statement. “As an organization, we do not condone this type of language. John has been suspended indefinitely as we investigate the matter more closely.”
