‘B Daht’ no longer arena host for UNC games at Smith Center

By R.L. Bynum

CHAPEL HILL — After more than two seasons as the arena host for Carolina men’s basketball games, Brian McLaughlin, better known as “B Daht,” is no longer in that role.

B Daht, an actor, comedian and radio personality, was brought in at the start of the 2021–22 season, Hubert Davis’ first as head coach, to bring energy to the Smith Center crowds with his enthusiasm and, as he said, to change the “wine-and-cheese foolishness.”

The Winston-Salem State graduate and huge Carolina fan again hosted “Live Action” in October and some early season games this season.

However, he posted two comments on X (formerly Twitter) during one of Carolina’s games at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas that were critical of coaching decisions. He didn’t work either of the two home games since the tournament.

A school spokesman confirmed there would be no host for any more games this season. B Daht, through his PR representative, declined to comment. There was no comment on whether the tweets and his departure are related.

B Daht is a host for Chris Paul’s Division I and Division II HBCU Tip-Off games, as well as the CIAA basketball and football championships and Winston-Salem State football. He also serves as arena host for the G League’s Greensboro Swarm and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.

He is a comedic commentator on The Grio with Eboni K. Williams. He launches season 3 of the IHeartRadio podcast “IDKMYDE” (I Didn’t Know Maybe You Didn’t Either), which is No. 6 on the Black Effect Podcast Network, on Feb. 24.

B Daht is curating and lead-facilitating a PA and arena event hosting course that resumes in May, and recently finished a series of partnerships and activations with national brands.

Photo by Larry Penkava