NBA bubble at Disney World was let go by the league after he posted an offensive meme about Kamala Harris, the newly announced Democratic candidate for vice president." data-reactid="16">A photographer who worked in the NBA bubble at Disney World was fired from the league after posting an offensive meme about Kamala Harris, the newly announced Democratic candidate for vice president.
Bill Baptist is a Houston-based freelance photographer who has covered the Houston Rockets for several years and was on the bubble as an independent entrepreneur. The meme he posted on Facebook saw a wider audience when it was shared by former Houston Comets superstar Sheryl Swoopes.
The photographer posts an insulting meme about Harris
Baptist posted a meme that included Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s official 2020 campaign logo. But instead of “Joe 2020” in the blue circle, it reads “Jo and the Ho”. He shared the photo on Facebook without comment.
Swoopes immediately called Baptist on Tuesday, just hours after the vice president announced.
“So this guy works for the NBA but covers the Houston Rockets. It’s been around for a while. He also worked for the Houston Comets. It’s amazing how people will smile in your face, but will eventually show their true colors.
“@NBA and Houston Rockets needs to GO !!! So disrespectful Bill Baptiste (sic) ashamed. “
The Comets, the first dynasty of the WNBA with four championships in the first four years of the championship, folded in 2008. Swoopes, a three-time MVP and Olympic gold medalist, is one of the pioneers of the championship.
NBA removes the photographer from the bubble
NBA said in a statement to KPRC 2 in Houston that Baptist was no longer in the bubble." data-reactid="31">The NBA said in a statement to KPRC 2 in Houston that Baptist was no longer in the bubble.
“The photographer is an independent contractor and his services are no longer used in Orlando.”
Baptist shared a statement with KPRC 2 saying the post “doesn’t reflect my personal views at all”.
“I am deeply sorry to have posted on my Facebook page a sentence that I have seen and copied by others as an example of some people’s reactions to Senator Harris’ Biden’s choice as his VP choice. The sentence I posted does not reflect my personal views at all. I shouldn’t have been so insensitive to posting other people’s statements. I sincerely apologize to all those who have been rightly offended and I have removed the post from my FB page. It was a terrible mistake on my part. “
An NBA photographer is no longer in the bubble after sharing an insulting meme about Kamala Harris. (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu)
