Terrified Brittany Griner flees hotel and cancels speaking gig after finding threatening note

Brittney Griner fled from a planned speaking event in Maryland on Monday morning after discovering what she thought was a threatening message in her hotel room.

The WNBA star found a piece of duct tape with the words ‘Gay Baby Jail’ written on it. 

Griner, 34, is gay and was imprisoned in Russia once for marijuana possession, before the Biden administration brought her home in a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer. Her and her wife Cherelle also welcomed a baby boy together in late 2024.

She was scheduled to talk to cannabis enthusiasts at an event on Monday held by Women Grow, an organization focused on female leaders in the industry.

However, it appears that the note was an unfortunate coincidence rather than anything malicious aimed for Griner, who was staying at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Prince George’s County Police Department were quoted by TMZ as saying: ‘Detectives have learned the phrase ‘gay baby jail’ is commonly used as a video game reference.

‘At the time the tape was located, a large convention was taking place at the Gaylord which attracts thousands of people, many with an interest in anime as well as video game enthusiasts. 

‘At this time, detectives have uncovered no link to or threat against the guest who located the tape.’

The phrase in the gaming community apparently refers to a glitch in the design of a video game where players get locked into a part of a level and can’t move in order to progress.

Women Grow CEO Chanda Macias told Marijuana Moment: ‘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.

‘The Gaylord [hotel] has assured us that the conference and its guests are safe; they have represented that the threat at issue was a meme joke left by a prior guest and unfortunately missed by cleaning staff.’