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Kobe Bryant's anti-gay slur; GLAAD asks him to 'set a better example'
Shortly after being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Kobe Bryant has gone and hurt his image again. During Tuesday night's (Apr. 12) game against San Antonio, the LA Laker referred to a ref as a "f***ing f*ggot" after receiving a technical foul. The anti-gay slur was caught on camera during the televised game, offending many viewers.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has issued the following statement regarding Bryant's use of a slur:
"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."
The anti-defamation organization has previously worked with several athletic organizations to address the issue of homophobia in sports, including the New York Yankees, the World Wrestling Federation and the Washington Capitals' minor league affiliate, the Hersey Bears. GLAAD has now reached out to the Lakers and will provide updates on GLAADBlog.org as they become available.
When it comes to sports, we understand that in the heat of the moment people often say things they don't mean. But when it comes to professional athletes in the position of being role models, there does come a level of responsibility.
After the PR nightmares Bryant has faced in the past, we think that this speed bump could be easily remedied. Let's just hope he takes the initiative to apologize and get involved in a tolerance program or some sort.
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GLADD complains about everything because their so sensitive. He said it not out of hate for the person but the frustration of the situation. People do it all the time, it has to meaning or context and is just a way to express his anger not of gays, people, or anything but the situation.
Things like that are said all the time on the court, swear words, derogatory words, everything. It means nothing on the court.
How hypocritical of a black man to say something like that. If a white person said the N-word, their career would be over.
I can't believe how badly us gays are treated in 21st century America! Something's gotta change. I say, suspend the son of a b*tch until he learns some manners.
Thats gay
I agree. He should apologize and speak out about WHY it is wrong to say something like that.
What do you expect from a Rapist!
Yes because Kobe being black makes is so much worse huh? Wrong is wrong, leave color out of it.
Kids look up to athletes so I think athletes really need to watch their behavior and language both on and off the playing court/field. I really do lose respect for players when the TVs catch them cursing after missing a pitch or a foul shot or a field goal... And, yes, I do swear myself but then, I'm not conceived as a "celebrity" and these athletes are. Their celebrity puts them in a position where they need to be "better than" - movie and TV stars, as well...
Ginni, kids aren't going to remember a guy that said one thing on tv. It's going to go in one ear, out the other and they'll forget. the only remember things are are said over and over again from people they know, or the things they watch like tv shows and movies. If you ask a kid that's a huge Kobe fan what they remember from last night's game it's going to be a shot he made and nothing he said. They most likely didn't even catch it.
Kobe does NOT have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has his footprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theater. Please check your facts.
This is a tough subject. Alot of the young kids these days would use/say something like that to express anger/frustration towards their friends or even strangers, much like the word a**h*** or mf'er. I know this can be very difficult for some people to understand, but the newer generations use slur words and change the meaning of them. If a guy calls his best friend a "f***ing f*ggot" he's saying something along the lines of "jerk". It doesn't mean he hates gays necessarily. I'm pretty certain this is the case, unless the ref looked very blatantly gay or Kobe knew about his lifestyle off the court (both of which I highly doubt).
Still, he is in the public eye and many people young and old look up to him. It's his responsibility to set a good example, but I understand he is not perfect. We can't expect him to be just because he plays a good game of basketball. I'm sure he doesn't hate or look down on gays. It was just something said in a moment of frustration. I'm sure he's sorry he said it at all now. Maybe this will be a valuable lesson to him, and he will think before he speaks next time.