- The WNBA earlier released a statement alleging that the Phoenix Mercury star was harassed.
- A video detailing the incident is now available to the public, courtesy of the man in question.
Comedian and YouTuber Alex Stein recorded himself criticizing the eight-time All-Star, alluding to past comments as a means of questioning her American patriotism.
Brittney Griner Targeted in ‘Calculated Confrontation’ at Dallas Airport
WNBA says a "social media figure and provocateur" orchestrated incident with Phoenix Mercury star
“As we gather information about today’s incident at the Dallas Airport, it has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur,” the statement read. “His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate.”
The league continued, “The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority. Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times. We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.”
However, in a statement Saturday, the WNBA Players Association criticized the league for not instituting charter flights for all travel; charter travel is currently deemed by the league as a “competitive advantage.”
- “Every commercial flight forced upon our players is a threat to their health and safety. We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel,” the WNBPA said in a statement.
- “What BG and all of her PHX teammates experienced today was a calculated confrontation that left them feeling very unsafe. Everyone who was paying attention knew this would happen. We could have and should have been more proactive.”
Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, also advocated for the use of charter flights to protect players.
“Brittney Griner and the @WNBA players are leaders who inspire hope for a better, more inclusive and less divided America. They are celebrated for the ways their activism inspires positive change. In doing that, they also become targets for hate, threats and violence,” Colas wrote on Twitter. “And today’s incident is a clear reminder of that. We cannot celebrate these women and their leadership without also protecting them. It’s past time for charters and enhanced security measures for all players.”
This article was updated at 8:23 p.m. ET to include statements from Griner’s agent and from Phoenix Mercury.
RELATED VIDEO
Brittney Griner is confronted by a right-wing media 'provocateur' at airport
- Alex Stein, host of conservative network Blaze Media's Prime Time with Alex Stein, posted about his encounter with the star basketball center on Twitter.
He later also posted a short clip showing him yelling at Griner as she walked through the airport, teasing a longer version of the video that he plans to release on Sunday morning.
"Do you still wanna boycott America, Brittney?" Stein says in the clip, as a man tells him repeatedly to stop and attempts to distance him from the group.
- Stein's Prime Time show, which launched in February, has featured inflammatory right-wing figures as guests including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Gavin McInnes.
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