A Hilton Grand Vacations employee was terminated after sending a racist Instagram message to WNBA player Chelsea Gray. The incident has drawn statements of support from the Aces and the WNBA, highlighting ongoing issues of athlete harassment.
A racist Instagram direct message sent to WNBA player Chelsea Gray has resulted in the termination of the sender, an employee of Hilton Grand Vacations, according to a statement from the company.
"The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company," Hilton Grand Vacations stated on Tuesday, July 14. "His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company's values in any way. " Gray, 33, posted a screenshot of the message, which she said she received after the Las Vegas Aces lost 109-75 to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, July 12, sharing it via Instagram on Monday.
"People act like we just make this s*** up," she wrote alongside the screenshot. "And the audacity to tell us as athletes to 'shut up and dribble. '" The incident highlights the persistent online harassment faced by professional athletes, particularly women and minorities, and the real-world consequences for perpetrators.
The NBA has also taken action in a related case, suspending a project employee for two weeks without pay after determining his posts reacting to the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk violated league policy.
"The project employee has been suspended without pay for two weeks for violating multiple NBA policies," the league said in a statement to Outkick on Friday, October 17. The Las Vegas Aces, who do not play again until Saturday, July 20, released a statement on Wednesday standing by their veteran guard.
"The Aces organization unequivocally condemns the hateful and racist messages recently directed at Chelsea Gray," the statement read. "We do not tolerate hate speech of any type, whether it's online, in the arena, or anywhere within our community. We stand behind those who have the courage to speak up for themselves. We are united with anyone who has been targeted by this type of unacceptable behavior.
" "We stand with organizations, like Hilton Grand Vacations, that hold individuals accountable for racist conduct," the statement continued. "We commend them for the swift manner in which they acted in addressing this matter. No athlete should ever face this type of abuse for playing the game they love.
" The WNBA, which has faced criticism in the past for allegedly failing to adequately protect its players from fan harassment, also released a strongly worded statement. "We unequivocally condemn racism and all forms of hate," the league said. "There is no place for this behavior in sports or anywhere, and we remain committed to protecting the players and fostering an environment built on respect and inclusion.
" Aces guard Natasha Howard, speaking to reporters at a June 30 practice, voiced the frustration many feel. "We're so concerned about the safety on the court, but time and time again, we're having people threaten our lives," Howard said. "Leaking addresses out there. Putting crazy pictures that have nothing to do with basketball.
" She added, "It's really unacceptable. It's something that needs to change in this league, and I'm just really sick and tired of it.
" The swift corporate and league responses signal a growing intolerance for racist abuse targeted at athletes, though advocates argue more systemic change is needed to ensure safety and respect. The final unrelated sentence about Brandi Glanville appears to be erroneous content from a different source and is excluded from this news summary
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