GLAAD says it has talked to Lakers regarding Kobe Bryant's anti-gay slur
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, said that it has reached out to the Lakers regarding Kobe Bryant's use of a homophobic slur in Tuesday's game against San Antonio.
"It's in progress," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said in a phone interview regarding the group's efforts in talking with the Lakers. "It's our hope they take appropriate disciplinary action and use it as an opportunity to educate."
When asked what would constitute "appropriate disciplinary action," from the NBA and the Lakers, Barrios said the league should "investigate the statement and the context of the statement. I'm not going to dictate what a team should do, but the team should take action and the action should include public education beyond this player in Mr. Bryant. They should not let a statement be enough."
The NBA is reviewing the incident and could levy a fine against Bryant, who expressed irritation after receiving his 15th technical foul of the season, yelled at referee Bennie Adams before appearing to mutter the homophobic slur. Bryant said later in a statement that "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." In addition, Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed GLAAD has reached out to the Lakers.
"I had a good and productive conversation earlier today with an executive of GLAAD, in which we agreed that certain words can be interpreted in a hurtful and offensive manner," Black wrote in an e-mail. "I assured him that Kobe didn’t mean his words in that way, and he seemed appreciative and satisfied with the statement that Kobe issued. Beyond that, I prefer to keep our conversation private."
Meanwhile, Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, further criticized Bryant saying his statement didn't do enough.
“For better or worse, Kobe Bryant has created a teachable moment for the millions of fans –- many of them young -– who saw that outburst on the floor,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese in a statement. “And the right thing to do now is to apologize and take responsibility for suggesting that the worst thing you can do to someone is to scream out a gay slur. This kind of homophobic outburst has dangerous consequences, even more so when it comes from a celebrity in the national spotlight.”
-- Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
Photo: Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant sits on the bench after getting a technical foul during a basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in L.A. April 12, 2011. Credit: Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
Funny how everyone has so quickly forgotten about Charlie Villanueva's Super Spaz against the Cavs' Ryan Hollins and subsequent ejection a few days ago. Dude went bananas! That kind of violent behavior should not be tolerated. Kobe has had a couple of run-ins, too (Reggie Miller, Chris Childs), I know. However, since Kobe is Kobe, this will inevitably be blown way out of proportion. Villanueva's violent outburst, face rake, arm flailing, temper tantrum, and rundown of Hollins after the ejection go far beyond the rules of the game. They border on criminal activity. Mountains and mole hills, people... mountains and mole hills.
Posted by: Don't Blame Del Harris! | April 13, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Kobe's comment is no worse than any other insult and we know that those happen in every single game. If he needs to apologize then 200 players and coaches should follow.
Those who compare "nigg*r" with "fagg*tt" please give me a break! Would it matter if you call Gasol "nigg*er"? Obviously not! The n word is much worse as its only referred to black people and I agree that should be avoided. The "f" word is a common insult and can be used without any anti-gay connotation.
This is like those who prefer to say colored people than black people which in my opinion is really insulting and disrespectful to black people. Colored people...please! aren't all races colored? or white are transparent.
Posted by: Ganapia | April 13, 2011 at 02:28 PM
"and take responsibility for suggesting that the worst thing you can do to someone is to scream out a gay slur"
Yeah, well, except for murder, kidnapping, rape, torture, abuse and about 1,000 other things.
I guess the drama doesn't end with the drag queens. Kobe shouldn't have used the words he did, but using the media to attempt to blow it up into something bigger than it is isn't winning any sympathy for the offended side here.
Posted by: Mayor of Kobe Town | April 13, 2011 at 02:29 PM
For the sake of correcting a mistake, Kobe could apologize but technically he already explained his behavior at that moment when he described his actions:
"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."
There was no malice intended to inflict harm to gay and lesbian community. He was really mad at getting a technical foul without the benefit of addressing his side of the story, why he should not get a technical?
Unfortunately, IMO, there is malice occurring with LA Times with their relationship with their own bloggers by replicating the story in so many thread milking the story piece by piece to gain more mileage and attention. Don't the bloggers deserve an apology for such disingenuous threading?
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | April 13, 2011 at 02:29 PM
WTH, where's my comment?
Posted by: Mayor of Kobe Town | April 13, 2011 at 02:31 PM
This is funny that we have all the organizations to "protect" people from being offended etc. My family is of Italian descent and I have many stories from my elders that THEIR elders, my great great great grandparents were called names, denied jobs , etc. simply because of their background and they just had to deal with it. They didn't have organizations to come in and "protect" them. Furthermore, far worse is said on a basketball court during a game.
But Bynum's knee isn't serious neither is Matt Barnes .
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Justin | April 13, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Oh give me break. What the hell went wrong with this country?
You can not say anything without offending somebody else these days.
As an American citizen, Kobe is entitled to Freedom of Expression.
Too bad all you CRY BABY Minority groups have all but rendered this right obsolete.
I’m going to go smoke a f@g now. You see, where I am from this means smoke a cigarette.
Hope I didn’t offended anybody, but let’s face it. Somewhere someone will find some way too take offense with this.
Want equality? Stop crying about everything. Wah Wah……
Posted by: Danny Manson | April 13, 2011 at 02:40 PM
Oh give me break. What the hell went wrong with this country?
You can not say anything without offending somebody else these days.
As an American citizen, Kobe is entitled to Freedom of Expression.
Too bad all you CRY BABY Minority groups have all but rendered this right obsolete.
Want equality? Stop crying about everything. Wah Wah……
Posted by: Danny Manson | April 13, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Who cares 'GLAAD' except PC sensitive LA Times
Posted by: Tomas | April 13, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Kobe made a HUGE mistake last night. Too bad.
Maybe the Gay community should stop using the "N" word so freely if they feel so strongly about teachable moments.
Posted by: ChicNstu | April 13, 2011 at 02:47 PM
It is most unfortunate to witness heterosexuals acting as if the word they themselves invented to refer to their gay children, fa**ots, does not really mean what they invented it to mean.
Classy.
He meant 'no offense?' He didn't mean it 'literally?'
So, he was trying to compliment the referee with his use of the word 'fa**ot?' He wasn't trying to degrade the ref by implying he's a 'fa**ot?'
One can only wonder what the fall-out would be if it was a white player who referred to a ref as a 'fu**ing ni**er.'
Posted by: Bill | April 13, 2011 at 02:47 PM
When you are exceptionally famous, you are held to all kinds of standards that the common person isn't.
ESPN doesn't really care when Villanueva tries to fight someone but they don't care when he scores 30 points and leads his team to a win either.
Posted by: Bay to LA | April 13, 2011 at 02:49 PM
While Kobe Bryant does have a potty mouth, why is the use of one "f-word" worse than the other "f-word"? Don't these self-appointed gay rights watchdogs realize that by their constant whining and crying, they're actually setting up the gay community for backlash? We're tired of watchdogs telling us what to say.
Posted by: Jack Mormon | April 13, 2011 at 02:50 PM
This is amazing! Really Kobe Bryant and the Lakers should do what more than has been done? He addressed it and said he did not intend as a diss to the LGBT Community. These people are opportunists and probably do not even watch basketball. I wonder if we could follow them around and see do they utter intolerable phrases against Republicans, George Bush, Jews, Christians or anyone that lives a different lifestyle than them. I think it is hypocrisy!
Posted by: Gary | April 13, 2011 at 02:51 PM
What's next? Protection for pedophiles, NAMBLA (look it up), polygamists, goat lovers? This is insane.
In other news, Bynum to play this weekend, hallelujah-praise the Lord-can I say that?
Posted by: billy in slo | April 13, 2011 at 02:52 PM
He is pure trash in all ways :(
Posted by: sharon | April 13, 2011 at 03:00 PM
Kobe needs to look in a mirror
Posted by: sharon | April 13, 2011 at 03:01 PM
Really??? Come one people its a word thats all it is. I thought this was America..apparently someone should let GLAAAD know that they are the only ones that really care is someone uses that word. we all hear derogatory name calling everyday, its part of life if you dont like it avoid it or dont pay attention to it. If Kobe called him a little B**** would women take offince to that? I wish all of these groups would just go get a life and stop worring about something that Im sure most of there supporters dont even pay attention too...SPORTS. Look GLAAD you have top model and american idol to pay attention to. Leave Basketball and Football out of your sights please....BTW you can have baseball
Posted by: Justin | April 13, 2011 at 03:01 PM
Annoying.
You know what society needs more of right now?
Special interests using shame to control others and promote their own agenda!
That's EXACTLY what society needs if we want to build a better future together!
What do we play for? RINGS!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | April 13, 2011 at 03:06 PM
I'm seldom surprised, through I'm always disappointed that those who benefit from or are unaffected by discrimination don't see the problem.
Posted by: EricSF | April 13, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Gays! For Christsake, get over it! There are some really big problems in this country and some angry guy saying "fagot" in a basketball game is not one of them. The Republican party has a policy against gays; go deal with them...there's some meat there.
Posted by: Robert Townsend | April 13, 2011 at 03:09 PM
okay, now this is just grandstanding.
i'm no fan what came out of kobe's foul mouth -- but my word, get over yourselves, GLAAD. we don't want to tell the Lakers how to handle this situation, but since you asked! yes, we want a PSA out of Kobe!
and word up, Jon K. i agree with your post 100%
Posted by: CBuck | April 13, 2011 at 03:21 PM
This was not a story until ESPN made it one. In the past, networks would simply use tape delay to refrain from broadcasting incidents like this. Now, in the age TNT and ESPN, networks zoom in on the angry player on the bench and then act all wounded that the player uttered something inappropriate. This is shameless manufacturing of controversy, and in the end, it serves to make a huge controversy out of what otherwise would have gone largely unnoticed. And L.A. Times blog: you fanned the fire by posting no fewer than FIVE stories on this.
Posted by: ESPN Ruins Sports | April 13, 2011 at 03:30 PM
The only one who is happy here is GLAAD, because people get to know about their useless acronym and what is stands for. They get press today, and tomorrow and the rest of the 355 days of the year, they go back to obscurity. Actually the biggest travesty here is the HRC Presdient man/woman/transgender/whatever he/she may be, who stated "And the right thing to do now is to apologize and take responsibility for suggesting that the worst thing you can do to someone is to scream out a gay slur", he should apologize to all the domestic violence, rape, incest, child abuse, murder, suicide victims out there who take offense to his comments. It is the puss*fication of America! What happens on the court, stays on the court!
Posted by: BigGameJames | April 13, 2011 at 03:34 PM
For the love of bull queers with a soft side, this is such BS! The guy was in the red-hot heat of competition, with his team about to lose it's 6th freaking game in a row, and in jeopardy of dropping down to the 3rd seed, with the playoffs right around the corner! This was a dastardly heated moment, we all say stupid things in our ball-busting heated moments, unless of course you're perfect. Give the guy a break, for the love of God! Oh, can I say 'God' these days in this country? All you fascist gay advocates are, in real terms, the worse enemies to your causes, specially when you zealously over-reach like this.
You can take that to the bank!
Posted by: Ludgwig | April 13, 2011 at 03:42 PM
The NFL needs to get back on track...ESPN is running out of stuff to talk about
Posted by: Justin | April 13, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Geez, if Kobe had only used the other F word . . .
Posted by: Mark G | April 13, 2011 at 04:06 PM
People get beaten and even killed when role models speak derogatorily about gays - you know it and I know it. After all, why do you think they call them role models. Saying I didn't mean to offend? Kobe, why don't you get up in front of a camera and say it - don't sweep it under the rug.
Posted by: Joe Gallagher | April 13, 2011 at 04:26 PM
This would make a great South Park episode, oh wait I think they have actually covered this one already.
Posted by: Ian Heiser | April 13, 2011 at 04:45 PM
That dude meant what he said, now he's punking out. Chump
Posted by: Dashman | April 14, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Laker Fan Assaulted after Warrior Game 4-6-11!
I took my family to the Laker warrior game on 4-6-11. We were all wearing Laker gear like almost half the crowd.
Three guys followed us out and tried to pick a fight with my son. One guy confronted him while another snuck around the back and sucker punched him and broke his jaw. The coward ran away after the one punch!
Warrior Security saw it and did NOTHING! They sent us a bogus report from their security dept. There is a video of the incident!
There is a TV Interview that can be found at ktvu.com and search Shaun Cass.
You can also Google search Shaun Cass and you can find the 4-5 sites that picked it up...
If anyone witnessed the attack, please call Sgt. Esoinoza Oakland Police @ 510-777-8525.
The Lakers should show the video before the 1st Playoff game! Shaun took a punch for the Laker Nation and he would step right back up to them if they would not run away!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: Barry Cass | April 15, 2011 at 12:44 PM