When apologizing for anti-gay hate speech, it’s probably best to avoid wearing shirts with profanity… especially shirts that imply your critics should go f*ck themselves.
On Monday, Boston Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran apologized for hurling a homophobic slur at a fan the previous day. His apology seemed contrite, with Red Sox reporter John Tomase remarking the 27-year-old “almost appeared teary-eyed.”
“I’ve had some fans reach out to me and tell me that they are disappointed in me. I just wanted to let them know that I’m sorry for my actions,” he said.
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“I’m a terrible leader,” Duran continued. “I know I shouldn’t have said that word. And I know I’m going to get looked down for saying it and it’s my own fault.”
His attire, however, articulated a more defiant message. When speaking with reporters, Duran wore a red cut-off tee emblazoned with two words in bright, white lettering: “F*ck ‘Em.”
Let’s call it the baseball equivalent of, “I really don’t care. Do U?”
After getting suspended for 2 games for aiming homophobic slur at Fenway fan, Jarren Duran chose to wear this shirt in his pregame presser today. pic.twitter.com/36VPYGYaMj
— Dan Shaughnessy (@Dan_Shaughnessy) August 12, 2024
Melania said her caustic jacket wasn’t about the children she was visiting in migrant detention centers; but rather, for people in the “left-wing media.”
Similarly, Duran’s cut-off shirt seems to be a message for his critics, too. The outfielder has been candid about his struggles with mental health, and the phrase serves as a self-mantra against his personal demons.
Still, it doesn’t take a Hollywood publicist to figure out that wearing a shirt telling critics to “F off” while addressing a homophobic outburst is a boneheaded move.
Duran should not have been allowed to address the media wearing that shirt. The Red Sox failed to protect the ignorant kid from himself.
“If there’s a swear word on a shirt . . . I don’t think that’s appropriate right now at this particular moment,” Red Sox president Sam Kennedy told The Boston Globe. (Kennedy added that Duran’s shirt doesn’t make him question his sincerity.)
Earlier Monday, the Red Sox announced they were suspending Duran for two games without pay, and his salary ($8,000) will be donated to PFLAG.
The light punishment is insulting, especially if there’s no emphasis placed on education. “If Duran had called someone the N-word, there is no way on earth his initial suspension would be just two games,” writes Cyd Zeigler of Outsports.
He’s right…
Right on cue, MLB’s most high-profile homophobic incident of the season comes just days after the passing of Billy Bean, the league’s first ever (and only) Ambassador of Inclusion. The second MLB player to ever publicly come out, Bean advised teams and players every season on the harms of homophobia.
Duran probably didn’t mean to insult gay people when he yelled at the fan Sunday. But the epithet is likely baked into his vernacular. Gay slurs are still passed around too frequently in locker rooms.
The incident happened Sunday at Fenway Park. With the Red Sox trailing 10-0 against the Houston Astros, an angry fan decided to remind Duran of his offensive struggles.
“Tennis racket! You need a tennis racket!,” he yelled.
Obviously, that’s not a nice thing to say, and we would never condone bullying at Queerty. But also… Jarren Duran is a pro baseball player. Sometimes, (obnoxious) fans taunt players. It’s an unpleasant reality, but part of the job nonetheless.
And as far as taunts go, “you need a tennis racket!” is pretty mild. The fan didn’t yell anything personal or derogatory. Duran went 0-for-3 Sunday with three strikeouts. He kind of did… need a tennis racket!
All kidding aside, pro baseball players should know how to handle mild heckling. Or at least, not blow up and yell the most hateful antigay slur around.
Seriously, out of all the words to choose. How did you choose that one, in 2024?!
NESN mics picked up Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran calling a heckling fan a "f*cking f*****" during Sunday's game
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 12, 2024
(Warning, slur included in clip below) pic.twitter.com/R6UYjJqnCJ
Duran issued a standard apology Sunday night, saying he will “educate himself and his teammates and grow as a person.” Of course, the apology didn’t specify how Duran was going to do those noble tasks.
The fact that Duran claims he’s never used that word before–a hard notion to believe–indicates the education is yet to begin.
Red Sox issue statement from Jarren Duran, who used homophobic slur during today’s game directed at a fan. pic.twitter.com/CYFYxXmID6
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) August 12, 2024
This is the second homophobic incident involving a Red Sox player in two years. Last year, they called up a journeyman pitcher with an antigay social media history right before Pride Night.
The Red Sox covered for him, with the former GM saying the pitcher didn’t intend to offend anybody with his bigoted words (the lefty was subsequently released).
Related*
Boston Red Sox call up homophobic pitcher days before their Pride Night, & now they’re getting crushed
Matt Dermody previously tweeted an anti-Pride message and is expected to make his debut on the team on Thursday.
With the Red Sox reacting tepidly to Duran, bad-actors could take advantage of the vacuum. The Boston Herald‘s Red Sox writer posted an erroneous scoop about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu requesting a meeting with Duran, causing gay-hating sports yahoos to froth at their collective mouths.
The post, which cited an anonymous source, was deleted without explanation. Mayor Wu’s office confirmed to Queerty the scoop was fabricated. “I don’t think the reporter had a real source because that information was completely made up,” said a spokesperson.
(The writer owes her readers an explanation, by the way. Her made up story generated a deluge of homophobic backlash directed towards LGBTQ+. That’s a regrettable story to get wrong.)
Deleted pic.twitter.com/OwTVHIw7V2
— Dave Cullinane (@davecullinane) August 13, 2024
Oh wait, but there’s more… The Red Sox honored Duran before the game with the Heart and Hustle Award, which recognizes players “who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”
We can’t confirm whether Duran’s shirt for that event also featured an expletive.
Kangol2
Duran’s vomitacious.
No thanks.
AJ24
Tying the t-shirt message and the apology might be a bit misleading. I do see how the optics of the shirt and message seems clashing, but the origin of the message is a positive one.
He wears that message every day, either in his undershirt or written on the wrist straps. The message “F*ck Em” (also Fck Em, I’m still alive) originated as his mantra against mental health demons (as he called them) when he was struggling with such problems some years ago as a reminder that he’ll not lose that particular battle. The shirt was even sold at some point and the full proceeds went to some charity (apologies for I don’t remember which one).
still_onthemark
Good point about the t-shirt context. This is an interesting controversy where the mostly good G #n Z concern with mental health collides with the (not healthy at all) G #n Z compulsion to reject any and all apologies and cancel any offender and get him fired and ban him from social media forever, yadda yadda yadda.
Baz01
Not just in regards to his original comment obviously, as we continue to be baffled by homophobic slurs and negative reactions (and far worse) in general to the LGBTQ2S community.
I mean, it’s not as if a gay guy is after your girlfriend or wife, and you feel threatened by the competition – though frankly, your girlfriend or wife might appreciate the better treatment as an individual.
Is it that you feel that if a gay guy flirted or propositioned you, you’re incapable of being flattered and saying, “Thanks, but I’m straight”, and instead would immediately ‘turn gay’ – despite your biological make up – and almost certainly end up the submissive bottom?
Or that you resent the idea that two women would not find you sexually appealing and invite you into participating in bed with them?
Or is it possible that you are, quite simply, not a terrific human being, and belittling people with words and actions on what you think is something worse than you are somehow empowers you?
Who do you think you are? Trump?
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Fahd
Not a fan, but it’s three strikes and you’re out. That alliterative slur seemed to flow naturally, but it seems like this is the first time he’s gotten caught. Let’s see what’s next. As for the Boston Red Sox, they need to do better in fostering an inclusive culture. He and management need to have more respect for gay players and fans.