NBA Fines Player After Anti-Gay Tweet to Fan
June 27, 2012 by Carolyn Simon
The New York Knicks’ Amare Stoudemire joined an unfortunate group of professional athletes over the weekend when he tweeted an anti-gay slur at a fan.
The fan was critical of Stoudemire in a tweet, and the NBA player sent the fan a direct message, calling the fan a familiar derogatory term that that has been dropped by other professional athletes in recent months.
The NBA took swift action against Stoudemire and fined him $50,000. Stoudemire apologized to the fan before the fine was handed down, and later released a statement.
“I am a huge supporter of civil rights for all people,” he said. “I am disappointed in myself for my statement to a fan. I should have known better and there is no excuse.”
HRC applauds the NBA for its response and its continued vigilance in fighting homophobia.
Image courtesy of Bryan Horowitz/Wikimedia Commons.
