Kobe Bryant Scolds Fan on Twitter For Using "Gay" Slur As An Insult
Kobe Bryant joined Twitter earlier this year and intervened Sunday night when two users debated basketball and one of them used the word "gay" to slam the player, according to Sports lllustrated.
Bryant was issued a $100,000 fine for using an antigay slur on the basketball court in 2011. Following a tough loss to the Miami Heat, the Lakers All-Star used his free time to teach Twitter users a valuable lesson. After one follower suggested that he and the All-star should "make out in bed," another follower replied with, "You're gay@Pooke09: @kobebryant Lets make out in bed Kobe."
Bryant got involved and wrote, "Just letting you know @PacSmoove @pooke09 that using "your gay" as a way to put someone down aint ok! #notcool delete that out ur vocab."
The fan's tweet has since been deleted, according to The Huffington Post.
In a 2011 game against the San Antonio Spurs, Bryant sparked an uproar with a number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy groups when he called referee Bennie Adams a "f*cking faggot" after receiving a technical foul.
At the time, NBA Commissioner David Stern issued a disciplinary ruling for the five-time NBA champion.
"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night's game was offensive and inexcusable," Stern said. "While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. ... Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."
Bryant punched his chair before sitting on the bench and threw a towel on the court after picking up his fourth foul in the third quarter. He got his 15th technical of the 2010-2011 season for arguing the call, one short of the cumulative trigger for a one-game NBA suspension.
"What I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period," Bryant said in a statement issued through the Lakers in 2011 following the incident. "The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone."
As for the recent gay slur issue, Bryant said he has learned his lesson from the incident three years ago.
"@onepercentofone @pookeo9 exactly! That wasn't cool and was ignorant on my part. I own it and learn from it and expect the same from others," he tweeted on Monday.