NRL apologises for tweet
The National Rugby League (NRL) has issued an apology after Parramatta Eels player Chris Walker tweeted a comment containing a homophobic slur.
On March 21 Walker tweeted “Paging doctor faggot”, “u better go doctor faggot”, “rogain check”.
When Sydney DJ Seymour Butz challenged Walker on Twitter about the comment, the footballer responded, “go 4 it… Look forward to hearing more about it when u go 2 the NRL??? Wen should I b expecting a call???”
However, he later deleted the comment and tweeted, “I’m sorry 2 all those people [who] think I’m homophobic, I’m not, I was quoting a scene from the movie [The] Hangover!”
Aaron Smith, a gay Eels fan also saw the comment and brought it to the NRL’s attention, writing that although he knew the comment was a line from a movie, he had “been a Parramatta Eels fan all of my life, and I just happen to be a homosexual man who in my younger years has dealt with being called this awful term”.
An NRL representative later emailed Smith to apologise.
“We are sorry that Chris’ comments have upset you and your friends,” the representative wrote.
“Chris has publicly apologised on Twitter for his comments and clarified that he was quoting from the movie Hangover.”
“We apologise for any offence taken and have ensured your feedback is passed on.”
On March 22, Walker tweeted Smith, writing, “hi Aaron, about tweet last nite about the reference to the movie Hangover, I’m sorry and didn’t mean to offend any1”.
“Glad you deleted your homophobic diss & thanks for the public apology,” Butz later tweeted Walker.
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Do you know what i find offensive.. That ppl actually make this news..
And also the tight jeans that MEN wear.. But who is complaining.
Its an all 2 common ‘slip-up’ that we regularly c from celebrities that feign ignorance and lack of bad intention. There’s chest beating contrition after the fact. Here’s an idea, think b4 u tweet or facebook and open ur mouth. If there was a federal anti-discrimination law that protected gay ppl from these sort of cheap shots with LITIGATION attached, it would b cause 2 stop an think b/c the price of bigotry would hava cost with bad publicity attached
Whilst I don’t find the terms personally insulting I do know that there are people who do find it and I pull people up on using those terms. Why? Because if we say it’s ok to call a coward a fag yet refrain from allowing people to call black people ‘insert word here,’ we are saying that there are some groups of people that should be accepted more than homosexuals.
How can we expect acceptance if it’s ok to use a word that is used colloquially to refer to homosexuals and cowards – or does this mean that all homosexuals are cowards?
Andres, to use the term “fag” or “gay” to imply negative qualities such as cowardice, stupidity or weakness is definitely insulting and reinforces an implicit condemnation of homosexuality. That you see it as some kind of affectionate, gentle ribbing does not change that. Perhaps amongst your peers and in the context of your close friends it may seem harmless – and indeed there is an argument for gays to use the word amongst ourselves as an empowering strategy in the same way black people have largely re-captured and self-entitled the “N” word – however, the use of these words negatively to vilify or demean people is a reflection of anti-homosexual sentiment.
It may indeed have been a thought-less or off-hand usage, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be called on it. Don’t forget that the rights we gays enjoy now were fought for not handed over.
This is a bit over the top already. There are some gay ppl who seriously need to leave their self-consciousness aside!
Calling someone who’s being lame or stupid “gay” instead of retarded or someone being coward “fag” instead of chicken it’s not an insult!
I’ve been gay my whole life and since school we’ve called others fags or gays to encourage them doing something.
I don’t think this guy was being a homofob but I do think half of the gay population are being a bit of a drama queens!