A former radio and television broadcaster associated with the Sacramento Kings basketball team has lost a federal lawsuit against one of his former employers after he was dismissed over a social media post five years ago.
Grant Napear lost his daily radio show on Bonneville International-owned KHTK (1140 AM), days after he resigned from his TV announcing duties for the Kings at NBC Sports California, after posting to Twitter that “All Lives Matter,” a direct response to anti-police brutality protests following the death of unarmed man George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020.
Napear resigned from NBC Sports California following a massive public outcry over his comments. KHTK, where Napear worked since 1995, initially suspended him from the station and later terminated his employment.
Napear filed an initial lawsuit against KHTK and its owner Bonneville in 2021, initially arguing religious discrimination and retaliation. U.S. District Judge Dale Drodz dismissed the claim of religious discrimination in 2023, but agreed Napear had grounds to sue on retaliation, and allowed that part of the case to move forward.
The case proceeded on the allegation of retaliation and an amended complaint that alleged wrongful termination under California law. Bonneville moved to have the case dismissed on a grant of summary judgment on free speech and other grounds, which was approved last week.
Drodz said Bonneville had reasonably determined that Napear’s social media comment was likely to undermine the credibility of the station and its relationship with the Kings. Moreover, the judge said Napear didn’t adequately challenge Bonneville’s right to free speech by proving that it was superseded by California labor law.
Bonneville has not released a public statement on its win. An attorney for Napear told reporters that responses to Bonneville’s victory was “sickening, because Bonneville International Corporation intentionally terminated Grant Napear because of his political expression concerning (the Black Lives Matter movement), and ruined Grant Napear’s life in the process.”
Napear now hosts his own podcast, “If You Don’t Like That,” which streams on YouTube. He also lists himself as a fill-in host for Westwood One radio personality Jim Rome.
