Latest news with #Griner
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
What is 'Gay Baby Jail' and why WNBA star Brittney Griner took it as a threat
Brittney Griner canceled her appearance at the Women Grow Summit after discovering a note reading 'Gay Baby Jail' in her hotel room/ Image composite: Instagram, TMZ On the surface, a handwritten note reading 'Gay Baby Jail' might seem like an absurd and a trivial joke, one born in the labyrinthine world of internet memes and gamer slang. But for Brittney Griner, an out lesbian and professional athlete who survived 10 harrowing months in a Russian prison and lives with PTSD from that ordeal, the note was a chilling trigger that prompted her to leave a public event and call in the police. Brittney Griner "Gay Baby Jail" hotel room tape note/ TMZ Newly released police bodycam footage, obtained by TMZ on May 27, shows just how seriously law enforcement took Griner's concern. The incident, however, dates back to February 17, when the WNBA star checked into the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland to speak at the Women Grow Leadership Summit, a conference for women in the cannabis industry, where Griner was scheduled to speak about her experience with drug charges and incarceration in Russia, as part of a broader dialogue on criminal justice and cannabis reform. In 2022, Griner was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after Russian authorities discovered vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. She was sentenced to nine years in prison, drawing international outrage and turning her into a symbol of geopolitical tension. Her release came in December 2022, after months of negotiation and a high-profile prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia, in which she was swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo So when Griner entered her room at the Gaylord and found a note taped to the door with the phrase 'Gay Baby Jail' and another with the word 'Private' on duct tape, the combination of words, placement, and history created a perfect storm. She immediately left the venue and canceled her appearance, with organizers publicly supporting her decision. 'We are actively working with the venue and authorities to investigate how this happened and hold those responsible accountable,' said Chanda Macias, CEO of Women Grow, in a statement to Marijuana Moment. 'The safety of every woman at this conference remains our top priority.' What is ' Gay Baby Jail '? According to the Prince George's County Police Department, which investigated the scene shortly after Griner's departure concluded the message was likely left behind by Katsucon attendees. At first glance, 'Gay Baby Jail' may sound provocative or even threatening, but its roots are far more absurd than sinister. The phrase originated from a 2013 Tumblr post by a user named Bolto, who shared a photo of their pet bird sitting inside a cardboard box. The box had a makeshift 'jail window' cut out, and written on it was the label: 'Gay Baby Jail.' A speech bubble coming from the bird read, 'I'm a bad baby.' The image was meant to be humorous, a whimsical internet joke in the tradition of exaggerated pet punishment memes like 'time-out corner' or 'dog shaming,' or like the wider known phrase 'horny jail'. The phrase quickly caught on in internet subcultures and evolved from there. By the mid-2010s, it had taken on a second life in gaming communities, especially after being popularized by Twitch streamer SimpleFlips. He used it to describe so-called 'softlocks,' game scenarios where a player gets stuck in an area from which they can't escape, restart, or die, effectively halting all progress. In this context, the player character is metaphorically 'jailed': happy (gay), baby (helpless or early in the game), and trapped (jail). It became shorthand across Reddit, Discord, and modding communities, particularly for ROM hacks of Super Mario 64 and similar games. Variations of the meme started appearing in forums: 'Lancer is in Gay Baby Jail' (a reference to the game Deltarune) or jokes like 'my man got sent to Gay Baby Jail for platforming crimes.' Often used with affectionate or sarcastic intent, the term never carried serious malice in its native online habitats. But, as this case involving Brittney Griner shows, what makes sense in a Twitch chat or meme archive can be entirely misread in the real world, especially when intersecting with histories of trauma or marginalization. The coincidence, or misfire? The note found in Griner's room is believed to have been left by previous occupants, likely attendees of Katsucon, a large anime and gaming convention that had concluded at the same venue just a day earlier. In the police report, an officer wrote: 'The meme 'Gay Baby Jail' is used among people in the culture to describe a situation in which progress through a game is impossible.' No evidence was found to suggest it was a targeted act or threat against Griner. Still, the confluence of details, the phrase, the timing, the venue (ironically named Gaylord), and Griner's public identity as a Black lesbian athlete recently returned from wrongful incarceration, understandably magnified her reaction. It was, to borrow from cultural theory, a case of semiotic misfire: a term divorced from its subcultural meaning, placed into a space where its ambiguity collided with lived trauma. As Macias put it, 'Regardless of whether this was a targeted attack or an unfortunate coincidence, the entire Women Grow community and I wholeheartedly support Brittney's decision and stand with her at this time.' More than a meme The broader takeaway from this episode is a reminder that online language, particularly meme-speak and niche slang, does not travel well without context. 'Gay Baby Jail' may still float freely across Reddit threads, Discord chats, or X posts ('I was stuck in gay baby jail yesterday but I'm back now guys,' read one recent post), but in a real-world setting involving someone with Griner's history, even an innocuous phrase can carry unintended weight. In an increasingly interconnected world where internet culture often bleeds into offline spaces, moments like this ask us to be more aware of how language, no matter how unserious in its origin, can land differently depending on who hears it. For Brittney Griner, the note was not a joke. Given everything she's endured, that reaction is not just valid, it's inevitable. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brittney Griner's alleged Caitlin Clark's comments cause outrage among conservatives
Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner has whipped up conservative fury as they accuse her of hurling a racial slur at rival Caitlin Clark. Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever's 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Thursday, cameras panned to Griner, who critics say labeled Clark 'trash' before calling her a 'f***ing white girl' in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard. Advertisement While a lack of audio meant it remained unclear whether Griner made the provocative comment, the moment quickly became fuel for controversy and sparked debate online. Conservative firebrand Riley Gaines shared the viral clip online and interpreted the three-time Olympic gold medalist's comments as a verbal attack. 'Brittney Griner appeared to call Caitlin Clark 'trash' and a 'f***ing white girl' after fouling out last night,' Gaines, a former NCAA Division I swimmer, tweeted. 'Just a reminder: this is who we traded for the Russian Merchant of Death,' she added, referring to Griner's release from a Russian prison in December 2022 as part of an exchange for notorious international arms dealer Viktor Bout, after she was arrested on drug charges at a Moscow airport. Advertisement 'Now imagine if Clark had said the inverse.' Brittney Griner #42 of the Atlanta Dream reacts after drawing a foul against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever on May 22, 2025 (Getty Images) Self-professed 'survivor' of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Philip Anderson, said: 'Caitlin Clark is a fool for bending the knee to these anti white pigs and Britney Griner should be sent back to Russia because that was the worst trade ever.' Meanwhile, right-wing media pundit Paul Szypula said the WNBA was 'trash' for failing to officially address the incident. 'Will the WNBA condemn, fine, and suspend Griner for this racist comment?' he tweeted. 'Of course not. The WNBA is trash. Just like Griner.' However, former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill shared Gaines' post and argued Griner had not called out Clark. Advertisement 'I get that your whole personality is caught up in stuff like this, so you don't care about spreading misinformation,' she rebuffed. '1) the foul call made on her had nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. It was because she fouled Natasha Howard. 2) She clearly says 'trash' and 'f***ing WACK CALL.' Former Chicago Bulls star, Ron Harper, tweeted that 'they will always test Caitlin Clark, not because she is white, but because she is one of the best players in the WNBA.' 'Stop thinking this is about color,' he added. Two days after the alleged Clark incident, Griner cut her halftime interview with CBS Sports short on Saturday as the Dream took on the Dallas Wings. Griner instead spotted the referees walking past and could be heard yelling at them to 'be f***ing better.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brittney Griner 'Gay Baby Jail' Note Investigation Captured on Police Video
Law enforcement clearly took Brittney Griner's "Gay Baby Jail" note concerns seriously ... new police video, obtained by TMZ Sports, shows two cops intently investigating the matter. The bizarre scene unfolded back on Feb. 17 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Maryland ... after Griner told officials at the hotel she had discovered a handwritten message in her room that she found to be threatening. Prince George's County Police body camera footage shows just a couple hours after the WNBA superstar hastily bolted from the area over the letter ... two officers rolled into the lobby in an effort to get to the bottom of the situation. You can see in the vid, a hotel staffer showed them what the note looked like -- before he took them in an elevator to get to the room. While on the way, the employee told the cops the message was taped to a door. He added that Griner was the one who found it. Once inside the room, cops not only located the "Gay Baby Jail" message ... they also found a piece of duct tape on another door that read, "Private." They ultimately determined the notes were likely left by the previous room's occupants -- who were in town for Katsucon, a convention for Japanese pop culture enthusiasts. "The meme 'Gay baby jail' is used among people in the culture to describe a situation in which progress through a game is impossible," one of the officers wrote in an incident report after canvassing the scene. "In other words your video game character is gay (happy), baby (game character), and jail (can't escape)." Nonetheless, Griner -- who was in town for a planned speaking engagement at the Women Grow Leadership Summit -- left the city without fulfilling her talking obligations ... something summit officials had no issues with.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brittney Griner's alleged Caitlin Clark's comments cause outrage among conservatives
Atlanta Dream star center Brittney Griner has whipped up conservative fury as they accuse her of hurling a racial slur at rival Caitlin Clark. Moments before the conclusion of the Indiana Fever's 81-76 victory over the Dream at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Thursday, cameras panned to Griner, who critics say labeled Clark 'trash' before calling her a 'f***ing white girl' in frustration over a foul on Natasha Howard. While a lack of audio meant it remained unclear whether Griner made the provocative comment, the moment quickly became fuel for controversy and sparked debate online. Conservative firebrand Riley Gaines shared the viral clip online and interpreted the three-time Olympic gold medalist's comments as a verbal attack. 'Brittney Griner appeared to call Caitlin Clark 'trash' and a 'f***ing white girl' after fouling out last night,' Gaines, a former NCAA Division I swimmer, tweeted. 'Just a reminder: this is who we traded for the Russian Merchant of Death,' she added, referring to Griner's release from a Russian prison in December 2022 as part of an exchange for notorious international arms dealer Viktor Bout, after she was arrested on drug charges at a Moscow airport. 'Now imagine if Clark had said the inverse.' Self-professed 'survivor' of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Philip Anderson, said: 'Caitlin Clark is a fool for bending the knee to these anti white pigs and Britney Griner should be sent back to Russia because that was the worst trade ever.' Meanwhile, right-wing media pundit Paul Szypula said the WNBA was 'trash' for failing to officially address the incident. 'Will the WNBA condemn, fine, and suspend Griner for this racist comment?' he tweeted. 'Of course not. The WNBA is trash. Just like Griner.' However, former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill shared Gaines' post and argued Griner had not called out Clark. 'I get that your whole personality is caught up in stuff like this, so you don't care about spreading misinformation,' she rebuffed. '1) the foul call made on her had nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. It was because she fouled Natasha Howard. 2) She clearly says 'trash' and 'f***ing WACK CALL.' Former Chicago Bulls star, Ron Harper, tweeted that 'they will always test Caitlin Clark, not because she is white, but because she is one of the best players in the WNBA.' 'Stop thinking this is about color,' he added. Two days after the alleged Clark incident, Griner cut her halftime interview with CBS Sports short on Saturday as the Dream took on the Dallas Wings. Griner instead spotted the referees walking past and could be heard yelling at them to 'be f***ing better.'
New York Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Viral video of Brittney Griner comment creates drama with Caitlin Clark at center
Britney Griner is embroiled in a controversy regarding whether she called Caitlin Clark a 'f–king white girl' Thursday night in the Dream's 81-76 loss to the Fever. Moments after fouling out, Griner seemingly said 'trash' before then following up with a comment that has been debated. Griner clearly says 'f–king' but some have argued she then followed with 'white girl,' seemingly about Clark. Clark is the face of the Fever. There are those who believe Griner instead said 'wack call,' in reference to her fouling out of the contest. Former NCAA swimmer and right-wing voice Riley Gaines posted a video of the tweet alleging the former. 'Brittney Griner appeared to call Caitlin Clark 'trash' and a 'f***ing white girl' after fouling out last night,' Gaines posted Friday night. 'Just a reminder: this is who we traded for the Russian Merchant of Death. Now imagine if Clark had said the inverse.' Former ESPNer and left-leaning commentator Jemele Hill quote tweeted Gaines' post while arguing Griner had not called out Clark. 'I get that your whole personality is caught up in stuff like this, so you don't care about spreading misinformation,' she wrote Saturday afternoon. '1) the foul call made on her had nothing to do with Caitlin Clark. It was because she fouled Natasha Howard. 2) She clearly says 'trash' and 'f–king WACK CALL.' 3 Griner was caught commenting after she fouled out. @BricksCenter/X Griner committed her sixth foul what one television announcer labeled a 'ticky-tack foul,' according to Awful Announcing, and she committed the shooting foul on Howard. Howard hit one of two free throws to slice the Dream's lead to 71-69. Whether Griner was commenting on the call or Clark, she certainly seems to be irked with the referees. 3 Clark and Griner during Thursday's game. Getty Images 3 Griner fouled out in the loss to the Fever. Getty Images During Saturday's win over the Wings, Griner walked away from an interview to yell at the referees 'be f–king better.' Griner, one of the best women's basketball players in the history of the sport, is averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for 2-2 Dream.
