Hornets announce broadcaster won't return after tweeting racial slur

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 17: A detailed view of the original logo of the Charlotte Hornets on display on the court ahead of opening night against the Milwaukee Bucks at Spectrum Center on October 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Charlotte Hornets will not retain a member of their radio broadcast team following his purportedly inadvertent use of a racial slur on Twitter last month, the team announced Thursday.

On Aug. 17, play-by-play announcer John Focke used the slur in place of "Nuggets" when tweeting, "Shot making in this Jazz-(N-word) game is awesome! Murray and Mitchell going back and forth what a game!"

Focke deleted the tweet and apologized, saying his use of the N-word was unintentional and a "horrific error." He was suspended indefinitely the next day.

In their statement, the Hornets thanked Focke for his contributions during the season but noted he won't return for the 2020-21 season due to a violation of the team's social media policy.

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