31 Jan 2013
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver opened his big mouth during a radio show with comedian and radio host Artie Lange on Super Bowl media day after he was asked the question of whether or not there were any gay players on the team. His response was filled with the typical bravado of an individual much too macho to stand in a locker room with someone who might be a yucky gay person:
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. Nah. Come out 10 years later after that.
Of course, the 49ers and their PR people were quick to force an apology out of Culliver after his remarks ruffled some major feathers. In a response obviously written by someone who was not Culliver, he released this statement via his team:
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.
The 49ers also responded to the Cullivers’ remarks:
The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.
You’d think that, by now, sports teams would teach some sort of media relations class on what is and is not appropriate to say during interviews and on social media.
Which brings me to this next point: who else is going to be rooting for the Ravens this Sunday?
