Just when we got through saying how nice and inclusive this year’s Super Bowl was going to be, 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver had to mess it up with his big, fat mouth.
On Tuesday’s edition of the Artie Lange Show, Lange asked Culliver, 24, if there were any gay players on his team.
Culliver responded:
“I don’t do the gay guys man. I don’t do that. No, we don’t got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up out of here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff. Nah, can’t be in the locker room man.”
Well it’s nice to know Culliver doesn’t “do” the gay guys. We don’t “do” homophobic meatheads.
How about we take this to the next level?
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HRC communications director Fred Sainz called Culliver’s comments “reprehensible”: “Culliver should recognize how far most of his fellow athletes have come on this issue and apologize immediately.”
On Wednesday, the 49ers management released a statement saying it had addressed Culliver about the incident. “There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”
Culliver released an apology this evening:
“The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel.
It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.
Meh, whatever. Meanwhile, we take solace in the fact that in just a few short years Culliver’s words have gone from commonplace to unacceptable.
And that real role models like Brendon Ayanbadejo—and the 49ers who recorded the NFL’s first It Gets Better’ video—are out on the field.
MikeE
So let me get this straight (and THAT, dear friends is the ONLY thing you will see me get “straight”): he THINKS these things? But he doesn’t FEEL them?
This guy is a couple of yards short of a touchdown. He’s a halftime without a Superbowl.
Obviously he’s been hit in the head one (or ten) times too many.
the other Greg
I thought he meant he only blew straight guys?
Dakotahgeo
This is what you get from uneducated jock brains who are not white, Latino, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, etc., etc. Oh did I forget BLAAAACK??? I am soooooo frickin’ SOOORRRYYYY!!!! Please forgiiiive my fooooooo pawwwwww!!!!
MikeE
@Dakotahgeo: The guy is an idiot, but I think it has absolutely nothing to do with the colour of his skin. People of every hue can be ignorant.
Avenger
He shouldn’t have apologized. He was asked a question and he answered it. These fake apologies are pathetic. Own your opinion, no matter how many liberal douche activists groups call themselves “denouncing” it because it wasn’t Valentines enough.
Dakotahgeo
@MikeE: I agree, but it always seems to be the people/persons who have been given the most in life. This joker should be kissing every football field he walks on out of appreciation for what he’s got. Sorry, he’s still a dork!
Dakotahgeo
@Avenger: LOLOL… you’re silly!
gaym50ish
Apolologies like his are never the real expressions of the player. The apology is usually written by the guy’s publicist or the PR guy for the team. What came out of his mouth spontaneously is the way he really feels.
Garyj79
One can only imagine someone ( in particular a white player ) telling all black players to get out of the NBA cant they ! this guy sounds as dull as pig shit anyway (wtf’s sweet stuff?? lol)
2eo
@Dakotahgeo: But I’m a dork 🙁
I don’t want to be mentioned alongside a player of the crappiest rugby on the planet.
jwrappaport
@Avenger: Sure, his apology was almost certainly staged, but the symbolism is important, as it represents a general refusal by contemporary American society to put up with open bigotry.
Brian
@jwrappaport: I think you’re confusing genuine contrition with fake apologies. Culliver’s mea culpa sounds like it was written by the admin guy at the 49 ers.
jwrappaport
@Brian: I have no illusion that it was fake – I would be impressed if he were literate. My argument is that the fact that he was coerced into giving an apology is a reflection of a good thing, namely that open bigotry is becoming socially unacceptable.
iBLOW
The apology sounds so fake “it’s in my head, but not how I feel” BULLSHIT. If he said it own up to it, plus the statement doesn’t make much sense anyway I want to see his HighSchool test scores because he sounds like he can’t string together a proper statement for a interview.
Kieran
His business manager probably called to inform him if he ever wants an endorsement he better say “I’m sowwy”—and fast. But let’s hope the boy does infact “learn and grow from this experience.”
hassia
@Garyj79: You are not making any sense. Would you allude to his colour had he said get all Christians/muslims/e.t.c, out?
Charli Girl
As if …. Get off your soap box little boy! Just a pup wanting to “appear” superior to something, anything! Bahahahaha
Merv
I hate it when the bigots are so good looking. It makes it harder to hate them. But it was a pretty bizarre apology, “it’s how I think, not how I feel.” Dude, they’re pretty much the same thing. One person noticed something interesting about his body language in the press conference when he was asked if gay people should play in the NFL: He was shaking his head no while he was saying yes. Pretty hilarious.