Atlanta Dream center and Unrivaled star Brittney Griner withdrew from a women’s leadership summit speaking appearance after finding a note around her hotel room, self-deemed as a threat to her safety.

After finding a threatening note in her hotel room, WNBA star Brittney Griner reportedly pulled out of a planned speaking engagement at the Women Grow Leadership Summit. The freshly acquired Atlanta Dream center was set to deliver a keynote address in National Harbor, Maryland on Feb. 17 but withdrew from the appearance and booked a flight home after seeing the taped message.

According to multiple reports, Griner allegedly came across a duct-taped note near the entryway of her hotel room that read: “Gay Baby Jail.” The phrase commonly used in gaming circles originated from YouTuber Simpleflips as a joke regarding being stuck in a video game, with a reset being the only fix.

In Griner’s case, the note had a different connotation. As an openly gay athlete and LGBTQIA+ advocate, Griner reportedly viewed the note as offensive and took swift action to protect her safety. She previously spent 293 days detained in Russia on drug charges before her high-profile release in a prisoner swap in 2022.

organizers condemned the situation. In an Instagram story, Women Grow called for accountability. “This note was left in Brittney Griner’s hotel at the Gaylord National Harbor. She made the decision to leave to protect her safety,” wrote the organization. “We have to do better. We have to speak up. We have to rise together and ‘double down,’ as Dr. Chanda says.”

Despite Griner’s absence, the summit proceeded as planned. The event, which sells itself as a platform to cultivate, connect, educate, and inspire women in leadership, resumed with its scheduled Mardi Gras-themed festivities, live music, and a special appearance from former NFL running back Ricky Williams.

Griner was initially slated to deliver a speech titled “Cultivating Change: Empowering Women through Personal Leadership,” covering legalization, healthcare rights, and gender equity in the cannabis industry. The event promoted education and career development within the space and featured 84 additional speakers, including Women Grow CEO Dr. Chanda Macias.

Griner is a WNBA and Unrivaled star ( 
While authorities have yet to determine the source of the note, Prince George’s County Police issued a statement to TMZ, implying that the message was not a direct threat to Griner but rather something that “more than likely came from a large convention.” Law enforcement has assured that they are taking precautionary measures to investigate further.

“Detectives have learned the phrase ‘gay baby jail’ is commonly used as a video game reference,” a statement from police read. “At the time the tape was located, a large convention was taking place 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.”