WNBA star Brittney Griner unexpectedly withdrew from a scheduled speaking engagement near Washington, D.C., after discovering a troubling note outside her hotel room in National Harbor, Maryland.
The Atlanta Dream center was set to speak at the Women Grow Leadership Summit on February 17, but event organizers informed attendees that Griner pulled out after encountering “threatening objects and words” near her door. According to WUSA9, the note contained the phrase “Gay Baby Jail”, written on a piece of duct tape.
Authorities in Prince George’s County launched an investigation into the unsettling message found at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, where the summit took place. Police later determined that the phrase is a common video game reference and did not appear to be a direct threat to Griner.
“Detectives have learned the phrase ‘Gay Baby Jail’ is commonly used in video game culture,” a police statement obtained by TMZ Sports read. “At the time the tape was located, a large anime and gaming convention was taking place at the resort, attracting thousands of attendees. Currently, there is no evidence linking this message to a threat against Griner.”
Women Grow CEO Dr. Chanda Macias addressed the unsettling situation, revealing that hotel staff claimed the message was likely left by a previous guest as a cruel joke that housekeeping failed to remove.
“I don’t know what their protocols are, but I don’t understand why rooms wouldn’t be cleaned properly,” Macias told WUSA9.
Despite police downplaying the threat level, detectives continue investigating who placed the tape, when it was left, and the intent behind it.
This incident adds to the long list of challenges Griner has faced in recent years, following her high-profile detainment in Russia and return to the WNBA. While authorities work to determine what really happened, one thing is clear… Brittney Griner isn’t taking any risks when it comes to her safety.
