MLB Player Suspended For Two Games After Yelling Anti-Gay Slur At A Fan Heckling Him
The Boston Red Sox keep seeing their playoff chances lower daily, and getting swept by the Houston Astros over the weekend was the least of their worries.
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was not having a good time on Sunday afternoon. When he got up to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, a fan from the crowd started heckling the outfielder, yelling at him that he needed a tennis racket to hit the ball over the fence. Duran turned around towards the fan and shouted an anti-gay slur.
The TV home of the Red Sox NESN's microphones picked up the audio Of Duran yelling the anti-gay slur towards the fan, and both Duran and the Red Sox released statements and apologized for the situation.
"During tonight's game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan," his statement read. "I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community."
"Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and grow as a person."
The Red Sox stated how they talked the situation out with Duran, and here was their statement "The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today's game," the statement explained. "We echo Jarren's apology to our fans, especially to the LGBTQ community. We survive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continued to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance on inclusivity."
Duran was hit with a two-game suspension from the team without pay, starting Monday night against the Texas Rangers.
The salary that Duran will not receive will be donated to PFLAG(Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).