On Sunday, former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire was honored with the prestigious MLK Jr. Award for tolerance in Jerusalem. Two days later, he told a reporter he wouldn’t be comfortable with a gay teammate. Not just that, but he would avoid the person altogether.
“I’m going to shower across the street,” Stoudemire said. “Make sure my change of clothes are around the corner. And I’m going to drive–take a different route to the gym!”
When asked if he was joking, Stoudemire replied, “I mean, there’s always a truth within a joke.”
Stoudemire, who used to play for the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, currently plays for Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Premier League.
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Related: Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire Fined $50,000 For Tweeting Anti-Gay Slur To Fan
Yesterday, Jason Collins responded to his comments by calling them “sad” and “troubling”:
Very sad & troubling to think that @Amareisreal was just given this award. His homophobic comments have no place in sport or in our society. https://t.co/A81sTzItOi
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) March 1, 2017
John Amaechi also tweeted a rebuke of Stoudemire’s remarks, calling him a “man-child” who spews prejudice:
THIS is what I think of Amar'e Stoudemire.#RoleModelFail @espn @LeBatardShow pic.twitter.com/43KuuJ27WL
— John Amaechi OBE (@JohnAmaechi) March 1, 2017
This isn’t the first time Stoudemire has made homophobic remarks in public either. In 2012, he was fined $50,000 for firing off a gay slur at a fan on Twitter. At the time, Stoudemire issued an apology saying he was a “huge supporter of civil rights for all people.”
UPDATE: In a statement to TMZ Sports, Stoudemire said his remarks were meant to be jokes and said he is sorry if he offended anyone:
I want to apologize for my offensive comments against the LGBT community. These remarks were taken from a larger interview where a reporter was asking me hypothetical questions, and all my answers had a comedic undertone. The answers I gave were meant to be taken as jokes & I am deeply sorry for offending anyone. I am open to creating a dialogue to assist the fight the LGBT community encounters daily and will continue to focus on playing basketball.
Related: Out rugby star Keegan Hirst says he knows tons of gay athletes who are primed to come out
davidkohl
I find it particularly sad and unacceptable when a member of one minority thinks its ok to makes these sorts of comments to members of another minority. There can be no claiming it was a ‘joke’ either – he has a history of abuse. Add to that his arrogance in thinking that all gay men would have a sexual interest in him in the first place – why do hetero men always think they are irresistibly attractive to gay men? Personally, I don’t care what he thinks – but because of his high profile his team bosses should hit him where it hurts most – his bank account. I doubt though that there will be any real change of heart with people like him.
JerseyMike
Never trust a “straight man” who constantly complains about gay people.
Alan down in Florida
Or to put it another way – methinks the lady doth protest too much.
Mo Bro
Let’s face it, most blacks are not gay-friendly. I know this firsthand. Even those of us who won’t admit it know it to be true.
Having said that, this guy’s “tolerance” award should be immediately revoked . . . but of course it won’t be, for fear of the inevitable claims of racism and injustice.
Let’s face it, guys: On the PC thermometer, we homos are may degrees below that of racial grievance.
davidkohl
Why Mo Bro….something we agree on…that makes me so happy 🙂
ChrisK
That’s a well known fact. Even with the history making of a black president the black community still couldn’t shake their own bigotry and voted overwhelmingly against gays having civil rights.
ChrisK
Actually showering down the street sounds good to me. Does he own a mirror because he’s UGLY. It’s always the uglier then f*ck making the shower comments.
Jack Meoff
It’s a joke, when you give me that look it’s a joke.
https://youtu.be/VYHGnsOwHvI
Xzamilloh
Okay, yes, I can admit that there are quite a few in the various black communities that are homophobic, but the fact that there are other black individuals calling them out and not taking this crap anymore makes me feel good, because we are not about to let these morons keep getting away with this nonsense.