Kobe fouls with double F-words: Bryant addresses anti-gay slur used during baskeball game
”What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.”
Statement from Kobe Bryant, the famed player of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. Bryant was caught on camera calling a referee, Bennie Adams, a ”f*ing faggot” after he was called on a technical foul. (SportsGrid.com)
While it’s good of the highly-paid Bryant to address his distasteful choice of words, it isn’t exactly an apology. The Human Rights Campaign and Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation both released statements about the incident.
From HRC:
”What a disgrace for Kobe Bryant to use such horribly offensive and distasteful language, especially when millions of people are watching. Hopefully Mr. Bryant will recognize that as a person with such fame and influence, the use of such language not only offends millions of LGBT people around the world, but also perpetuates a culture of discrimination and hate that all of us, most notably Mr. Bryant, should be working to eradicate. Bryant and the Lakers have a responsibility to speak up on this issue immediately. America is watching.”
From Jarrett Barrios of GLAAD:
”Discriminatory slurs have no place on or off the court. Professional sports players need to set a better example for young people who use words like this on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility. The LA Lakers have a responsibility to educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable.”
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