Brittany Griner abruptly left a scheduled speaking engagement in Maryland on Monday morning after discovering what she initially believed to be a threatening message in her hotel room.

The WNBA star came across a piece of duct tape with the words “Gay Baby Jail” written on it, per Daily Mail.

Griner, 34, who is openly gay, previously spent time imprisoned in Russia for marijuana possession before being brought home in a high-profile prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as “The Merchant of Death.”

Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in late 2024. The couple, who have been together for several years, have been open about their journey and the challenges they’ve faced, including Griner’s detainment in Russia. Cherelle, an attorney and advocate, has been a strong supporter of Brittney both during and after her imprisonment.

 

 

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She was set to speak at a Women Grow event, an organization dedicated to supporting female leaders in the cannabis industry.

However, authorities later determined that the message was not intended as a threat. Griner had been staying at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, and according to the Prince George’s County Police Department, the phrase “Gay Baby Jail” is a common reference in video games.

At the time the tape was discovered, a large convention was taking place at the Gaylord National Resort, drawing thousands of attendees, including anime and video game enthusiasts. Authorities have found no evidence linking the tape to any specific individual or indicating a threat against Griner, according to TMZ.

In the gaming community, the phrase “Gay Baby Jail” is commonly used to describe a glitch in a video game where players become trapped in a section of a level and are unable to progress.

Bout had served 10 years of a 25-year prison sentence in the United States for charges including conspiracy to kill American citizens and officials, supplying anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.

President Biden faced mounting pressure to secure Griner’s release, with a senior administration official telling Politico at the time that the decision to send Bout back to Russia in exchange for Griner was “very painful.”

Griner, now a three-time Olympic gold medalist for Team USA in basketball, had been playing in Russia and was on her way back to the U.S. when she was detained.

Earlier this year, she parted ways with the Phoenix Mercury, the team she had played with her entire career, and signed with the Atlanta Dream.