Brittney Griner faced 'excessive harassment' by a right-wing social-media personality at Dallas airport

Brittney Griner. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

• A right-wing 'provocateur' appeared to harass Brittney Griner at a Dallas airport on Saturday. 
• Alex Stein said the basketball player "hates America," in a video posted on social media. 
• The WNBA said in a statement that his actions were "inappropriate and unfortunate."

WNBA player Brittney Griner was confronted by a right-wing social-media personality at a Dallas airport on Saturday.

Alex Stein berated the star about her release from a Russian prison in a video of the incident that he posted on Twitter.

In the video, Stein shouts, "Do you still want to boycott America, Brittney?" as a man appears to hold the blogger back.

Stein also shouts that Griner "hates America" and "What about the merchant of death Brit?"

Other players who were at the airport at the time told Terri Jackson, the executive director of the WNBA, that security had to push Stein away and later tackle him, The Washington Post reported. 

—Alex Stein #99 (@alexstein99) June 10, 2023

Last year, Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison after being convicted on drug charges. She was released back to the US in December in exchange for the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout — nicknamed "The Merchant of Death."

Before her months in a Russian prison, Griner, an outspoken for social justice, didn't take the court during the pregame anthem. But last month, she stood for the national anthem before her first regular-season WNBA game, AP reported.

"I was literally in a cage and could not stand the way I wanted to," she said. "Just being able to hear my national anthem and see my flag, I definitely want to stand."

The WNBA released a statement on the incident, saying: "It has come to our attention that this was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur. His actions were inappropriate and unfortunate."

"The safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority," the statement continued, adding that before the season, it had worked to "ensure her safety during her travel," including "charter flights for WNBA games."

"Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable," Brianna Turner, one of Griner's teammates, said in a tweet. 

"Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner, unsure how to move about. We demand better," Turner said.

Stein has previously hit the headlines for harassing New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Capitol steps. In a clip shared by AOC, Stein calls her a "big booty Latina," among other things. 

The Phoenix Mercury had been in Texas for a game against the Dallas Wings, which they lost 90-77.