Hornets part ways with radio announcer after tweet slur
The Charlotte Hornets said Thursday that radio announcer John Focke will not return after he used a racial slur in a tweet two weeks ago. The Hornets thank John for all of his efforts during the 2019-20 season, “the team said in a statement. On Aug. 17, Focke was commenting on social media about the overtime game between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz.
The Charlotte Hornets said Thursday that radio announcer John Focke will not
return after he used a racial slur in a tweet two weeks ago.
Focke was suspended indefinitely on Aug. 18 after tweeting out the “N word”the night before. He was let go for violating the team’s social media policy.
“Since this is a personnel matter, the organization will not comment anyfurther. The Hornets thank John for all of his efforts during the 2019-20season,” the team said in a statement.
The 2019-20 season was Focke’s first with the team.
On Aug. 17, Focke was commenting on social media about the overtime gamebetween the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. The since-deleted tweet read, “Shotmaking in this Jazz-(deleted) game is awesome! Murray and Mitchell going backand forth what a game!”
The slur, which was the “N word” instead of “Nuggets,” was contained in thedeleted text. Focke apologized that night on social media.
The Hornets hired Focke in April 2019. He previously was the executiveproducer and studio host for the Minnesota Timberwolves radio network and theradio play-by-play announcer for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.
He was named the 2017 Minnesota Sportscaster of the Year by the NationalSports Media Association.
–Field Level Media
