US State Department official Britt McHenry departs after NBA game incident

Britt McHenry, a 40-year-old press advisor at the U.S. State Department, has departed her position following a physical confrontation at an NBA game in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. During the match between the Washington Wizards and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Capital One Arena, McHenry was captured on video throwing the contents of her drink at a male fan. According to reports, the incident was sparked by a verbal disagreement regarding comments the group of men made about Milwaukee Bucks player Kyle Kuzma, who is engaged to model Winnie Harlow.

McHenry, a former television personality for Fox News and ESPN, had been promoted to a new role overseeing communications and external affairs for Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Helberg’s team just hours before the incident. Following the public altercation, which led to her being booed by spectators, reports indicate she was forced to resign from her position. A source familiar with the situation stated that she was promoted and effectively removed within a 24-hour period. The U.S. State Department has declined to comment on the matter, citing policies against discussing internal personnel issues.