Call it a photo ready.
The NBA ended a photographer who treats games as an independent contractor after he posted an offensive meme from Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris to his Facebook account, according to several reports. The post attracted widespread attention when it was shared and condemned by Basketball Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes.
Houston-based photographer Bill Baptist was released from the NBA’s COVID-19 protective bubble at Disney World. He has handled the Houston Rockets for decades.
Baptist changed the official logo of Presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign of “Joe 2020” and used a derogatory term for women instead of the year.
“That this man works for the NBA but occupies the Houston Rockets,” wrote Swoopes, the WNBA of the Houston Comets. ‘Has been around for a while. Even worked for the Comets. It’s amazing how people will smile in your face, but in the end, they will show their true colors. @NBA and Houston Rockets he has to GO !!! So disrespectful. Bill Baptiste (sic) shame on you !!! ”
Baptist apologizes in a statement released to KPRC-TV in Houston:
“I deeply regret that I posted on my Facebook page a phrase I saw from others and copied as a sample of some people’s reactions to Biden’s selection of Senator Harris as his choice of VP,” he wrote.
“The expression I post does not reflect my personal views at all. I should not have been so indecent to post the statements of others. I remain sincere to all those who have been rightly offended and I have taken down the post from my FB page. It was a terrible mistake on my part. ”
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