Queerty reported earlier about New Jersey Devils center Cam Janssen, who made gross sexist and homophobic remarks during an internet-radio show earlier this week. Well, today he apologized, but more for his “poor choice of language” rather than the hateful ideas behind it.
Janssen was yucking it up on The Thom & Jeff Show in St. Louis when he got into a discussion about trash-talking in hockey:
Janssen: “There’s some shit-talkin’ that goes down that pisses some people off. There’s a lot of personal shi, man, like, guys know personal shit. … You wanna get in people’s heads to get them off their fuckin’ game and don’t get me wrong, you don’t wanna go too deep with sh*t because we all have our issues here. Let’s be honest.”
Host: “But if the guy was suckin’ cock four weeks ago, you’re gonna let him know about it?”
Janssen: “Oh, if he’s suckin’ cock, he’s gettin’ his ass kicked.” [laughter]
After Queerty and several sports site broadcasted Janssen’s interview, he issued a mea culpa:
“I would like to apologize for my poor choice of language. The tone of the interview was very casual and off-color, and I lost focus on what is and is not acceptable and professional.
I am deeply sorry to anyone who was offended by my language. Moving forward, I hope to eliminate that type of language from my vocabulary. I would also like to take this chance to express my support for the work the You Can Play project is doing, and for the gay community in general.”
Wait, for your language? It’s not your language that’s atrocious—it was your suggestion you’d kick the ass of a gay player, whether you say “he’s suckin’ cock” or “he has same-sex attractions.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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Earlier in the interview, Janssen called the L.A. Kings “the fat broads that you regret bangin’.” So if he had said the Kings were the plus-sized ladies you rue being intimate with, that’d be kosher?
We’re hoping this is just another example of Janssen’s inelegance with words and that he meant he was sorry for the whole conversation. The folks over at You Can Play, a nonprofit campaigning for inclusivity in hockey, have a more reasoned response to Janssen’s missteps than we do:
We must never condone the private or public use of these hateful slurs. But we must also be constantly aware that for many athletes, they do not see the full extent of the hate these words carry. We remain convinced that we are on the right track.
Aw jeez, okay.
Qazzo
Wish he hadn’t apologized, since he most likely doesn’t mean it. I’m getting tired of public figures saying stupid things and then “apologizing”, most likely at the insistance of their handlers. Stand by your feelings, no matter how backwards they are.
Colin
@Qazzo: Agreed.
James
If he were black people would have called for his head.
Colin
@James: Well obviously. What’s your point?
the other Greg
You gotta wonder about that “host” too. If this had been broadcast radio instead of the net, he’d be in trouble.
I’m curious about the phrasing, why “four weeks ago”? Most of us actual, OUT gay guys perform fellatio more regularly than that! I’m sure I haven’t gone four weeks without doing it since age 22.
Is the “straight” host used to taking a monthly “walk on the wild side”?
Also, Janssen’s quote about the L.A. Kings sounds kind of unintentionally homoerotic to me. I mean, “bangin’” – really? Maybe a Freudian slip there.
Macmantoo
Just another ignorant dumb jock. And I agree, probably taken too many pucks to the head and that’s before he started playing.
Mark
My exact feelings. Stop saying douchebag things, then turn around and say I’m sorry, it’s annoying and the person just is a shallow idiot for doing what they did. Then the apology just makes things worse. God, who cares about these idiots?
Tel
“We must never condone the private or public use of these hateful slurs. But we must also be constantly aware that for many athletes, they do not see the full extent of the hate these words carry. We remain convinced that we are on the right track.”
Translation: C’mon, give the guy a break, he’s as dumb as rocks! Ignore him and he’ll go away.
Belize
@Colin: I’m sure he’d like to explain it. But given your history for stupidity, I’m sure he’d prefer to no longer try. 😉
Baba Booey
Advocating violence against gay people? Well, hopefully gay and family and friends of gay people should cancel their Devil’s tickets and boycott Devil’s merchandise. It’s obvious he is not truly sorry. This is how you can make him, the NJ Devils and the NHL really sorry. Hopefully this inspires one ticket holder to not spend your hard earned money on an organization that advocates violence against you, a gay person, or family/friend of gay people.
Blah, bla..huh?
@James: I’d pay to see a famous hompohobe head-on-a-stick at the carnival. A little tiltawhirl, I win some stuffed animal bear for the man, (lotsa laughs) and that awesome booth with the “this could happen to you” theme to the barker and splinterheads’ pitches? Good times!
Colin
@Belize: So, in other words, there isn’t a point. Got it.
You blacks sure are entertaining.
luther
Gay orgs like GLAAD and others are so very embarassing in their willingness to go to any lengths to accomodate people who trash the gays. Can’t we just once say enough is enough and not accept these lame “apologies”? Other minority groups don’t put up with this crap. Why should the ever-meek gays do it?
Paul
I’m sick of these fake apologies. He threatens gay people and then changes his mind an hour later. Fuck this asshole. Boycott the NHL, which is by far the most homophobic of all. Things will change when gay people stop taking shit!
Paul
I imagine there will be ten more of these assholes with the same fake apology, which is getting down right insulting. What a joke these apologies are now. Fining does not work. These are millionaire athletes. Gay people need to go higher and boycott. Cancel season tickets, don’t support the NHL financially.
nineinchnail
He must be a closet case. Id rather he didnt apology for the fact he is a complete d-ckhead!!!
DevilsFanPeopleSupporter
Don’t boycott the NHL. It won’t solve or help anything. Cam Janssen is apologetic over what he said and how he said it. I didn’t hear about it until someone on Facebook posted the link. And he was talking in a way most men speak: Out his ass. The oaf who was interviewing went out of his way to hook Janssen into saying something–anything–that may generate a bigger audience for the Internet based show.
Janssen is an enforcer for the New Jersey Devils. He main job is to protect the marquee players, run interference, shovel the puck to the nearest sniper, and put his fist through the face of his opponent. He is well liked by his teammates. There isn’t one player on the Devils who hates Janssen. If there is, he is probably making himself comfortable in Minnesota right now.
Do not judge too harshly. Janssen is contrite. He did apologize. And he is human.
Colin
@DevilsFanPeopleSupporter: Why are you making excuses for him? What will that accomplish?
James
@Colin: I was just calling out the gay blog bull shit of when a black person says something homophobic they become representative of all black people and people call for them to be fired from their jobs. That’s all.
Colin
@James: But people are saying the same thing on this thread about him and the NHL.
Hephaestion
This Janssen character sounds like a 9 year old.
In fact my 9 year old neighbors wouldn’t say anything that dumb.
What a loser!
Mike
Please boycott the NHL. These small fines are a way to to sweep this issue under the rug and make us go away. It’s obvious this and these individuals as well as the NHL have no respect for gay people. These attacks on gays and the expected manufactured apology issued hours later is salt to the wound. It’s appalling. It’s sheik to attack gay people and later apologize for it. I know as a Detroiter, I will not attend any Red Wings games this year. I will also not eat in Hockey Town. I will support the NHL again when there is an openly gay player actively playing.
DevilsFanPeopleSupporter
@Colin: Colin, I’m not making excuses for him. It’s just the fact that he did apologize and he learned his lesson. It’s a two months away from training camp, and I’m sure Brendan Shanahan will have something to say about this before then. I don’t think Lou Lamoriello will buy out his contract or trade him away anytime soon.
DevilsFanPeopleSupporter
@Mike: @Colin: Colin, I’m not making excuses for him. It’s just the fact that he did apologize and he learned his lesson. It’s a two months away from training camp, and I’m sure Brendan Shanahan will have something to say about this before then. I don’t think Lou Lamoriello will buy out his contract or trade him away anytime soon.
Brian
@Devils, so when the next asshole attacks gay people via twitter or interview and ‘apologizes’ a month from now and the next 50 that do the same between now and December forgive them too?
No.
Get some self-respect.
Mk Ultra
As far as the gay community is concerned he is te posterboy for homophobia in hockey.
His apology “duuuh, me sorry this bring me bad PR” is even, ore gross than his stayement that he would beat te shit out of a player for being gay
What if another player shots a puck right at this fucker’s unprotected face and he is injured and taken out of the game. That’e be soooooo funny. (hey devils fan, I’m just talking out of my ass like most men, herp derp)
I’m glad devils fan also points out that he is well liked by his team. I guess that means tje whole team are homophobes and boycotting them would send a big message.
DevilsFanPeopleSupporter
@Brian: I have loads of self-respect. I have loads respect for other people. I also have a lot of forgiveness, too(70 times 7, to be exact).
RLS
It’s ok guys, since he’s white, he really didn’t mean it. And that apology was completely and totally sincere. Now let’s move along and save or vitriol for the next black person who does something similar.
kyle
I read that GLAAD said this guy’s apology was the most sincere of all the past million athletes who degrated gay people. I felt like I was another planet reading that. He threatened violence against gays and that apology was so phoney. I really hope that’s not true and GLAAD is not this meek.
DevilsFanPeopleSupporter
Well. So much for moving on.
Mike
@Devils, yessum, massa. We’ll move on, massa. We be your house [email protected], massa. We do what we are told.
DevilsFanPeopleSupporter
@Mike: Move on.
Paul
Ignore the annoying Devils troll please.
David
Mr. Janssen seems like an uneducated idiot.