TONGUE SLIP?

Former NFLer Dexter Manley On Troy Aikman: “He’s A Queer”

Former Washington Redskins player Dexter Manley (pictured) once again found himself with his foot in his mouth when he used an antigay slur to describe Fox NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman.

In a radio interview on WTOP in Washington, hosts Mike Moss and Bruce Alan were analyzing Washington’s loss to Denver when one of them asked Manley if Aikman might have jinxed the local team by calling the game.

Manly’s response:

“I think Troy Aikman’s a queer.”

There was an awkward moment of stunned silence before one of the hosts said, “We don’t want to go there.”

The hosts then informed Manley that his comment was inappropriate and asked if he wanted to apologize.

“No,” said Manley. “I’ll just say I take that back.”

He eventually did apologize while still trying to chuckle his way out of the situation.

Shortly after the interview ended, WTOP VP News and Programming Jim Farley issued a statement on Manley’s remark:

This morning in a live interview former Redskins player Dexter Manley made an offensive and derogatory comment. He was immediately challenged by WTOP news anchors Mike Moss and Bruce Alan. We were shocked and stunned and we apologize to our listeners that this happened on WTOP.

WTOP has contacted a representative for Manley and informed her that he will not be returning.

That afternoon, Manley released his own apology, in which he claims he will “do his best” not to use antigay slurs in the future:

In an interview with WTOP radio Monday, while intending to be funny, I used a slur to refer to Troy Aikman. It was wrong and insensitive. Anyone that knows me knows that’s not who I am in my heart or mind. I want to apologize to Troy, but I mostly want to apologize to anyone else I offended. Like a lot of people in these times, I have to realize that what I thought was funny years ago doesn’t work now. I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again and hope you will accept my apology.

In our estimation, antigay slurs were never funny — not years ago, and certainly not now.

 

H/t: Sports Illustrated

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