Former Houston Rockets Twitter manager takes firing with class
Chad Shanks’ Twitter apology and statement to the Houston Chronicle after his controversial tweet on the team’s behalf serves as a model for people who get let go for gaffes.
![Ragan Insider Content](https://s39940.pcdn.co/wp-content/themes/ragan-theme/img/insider_600x350_lockdown.jpg)
As you can see from the number of times his message was retweeted, his tweet quickly became the source of Twitter conversation. Some people were outraged by the violence-based emoji; others thought the trash talking was funny. Personally, I find it a bit crass and unsportsmanlike.
The Rockets fired Shanks the next day.
We’ve all seen this narrative repeatedly: Someone tweets something questionable, Internet seeks justice, perpetrator loses his or her job. But this story is different, because Mr. Shanks proceeded to offer a master class in how to respond to such a situation with grace.
First, he tweeted the following messages: â
Sometimes you can go too far. I will no longer run @HoustonRockets but am grateful to the organization that let me develop an online voice.
— Chad Shanks (@chadjshanks) April 29, 2015
I did my best to make the account the best in the NBA by pushing the envelope, but pushed too far for some and for that I apologize.
— Chad Shanks (@chadjshanks) April 29, 2015
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
![Ragan Insider Logo](https://s39940.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ragan-insider-logo.jpg)