Breaking News: HRC & GLAAD Action, Kobe Bryant Fined $100,000 by NBA
April 13, 2011 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Discrimination, FEATURES
On Wednesday, April 13, 2011 The National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner David Stern in New York issued the following statement on the http://www.nba.com website regarding Kobe Bryant homophobic slur towards an NBA referee on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 in Los Angeles:
“Kobe Bryant’s comment during last night’s game was offensive and inexcusable. While I’m fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society.”
Early today Kobe Bryant made the following statement from El Segundo, CA: “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.”
TMZ.com reported that Kobe Bryant appears to mouth the words, “F**king f**got.”
Here is the video that got Kobe Bryant in trouble:
FORBES.COM also reported that Human Rights Campaign issue the following statement: “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.”
Not only HRC requested apology from Kobe Bryant also The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) issue on 4-13-2011 the following statement on their website “Discriminatory slurs have no place on or off the court,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “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.”
Kobe Bryant Photo Credit to: Solarpix – PR Photos
GLAAD Photo Credit to: Daniela Hubbard from Daniela Hubbard Photography.
Note: These kind of discrimination statement is not acceptable and we will continue to updated you, because at this time the story is still in development.
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