US: As controversy dies down over anti-gay remarks, NFL’s Chris Culliver in trouble again

NFL player Chris Culliver, who shortly before playing in the Super Bowl was involved in a controversy over his anti-gay remarks, is now facing trouble over publicly posting a text message conversation in which women are referred to as “bitch” and “hoes”.

In February, Culliver, who plays for the San Francisco 49ers, said in an interview that he didn’t think there were any gay players on his team, and that they wouldn’t be welcome if there were.

He told an interviewer: “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.”

Culliver since apologised, and said his comments were “hurtful and ugly”, and said they didn’t reflect his true feelings on the issue. He said: “I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.”

He has also followed up on promises that he would work with the Trevor Project as part of his sensitivity training.

The cornerback has now caused further controversy by posting a screenshot of a text message conversation on his Instagram feed, which has 30,000 followers, in which he uses the derogatory words.

The 49ers have released a statement saying the situation with Culliver “is being handled internally”,

Comments on the photo from those offended, included” “Why would you even post this? Makes u look bad.”

Another user wrote: “Where’s the dislike [button]?”, another said: “Real men don’t speak this way.” A third questioned: “Why does a woman always have to be a ho and a bitch though?”

A former Navy chaplain who was disgraced by the military for his role in a protest in 2006, recently weighed in on the argument over gay players being allowed to come out in the NFL, to say that he thinks the “Devil is afoot”.

In the US there is currently no openly gay player in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association or National Hockey League.

At the beginning of March, NFL player Scott Fujita spoke out about the issue of a lack of gay players in professional sport, and said that he thinks it would “not be an issue at all” to have a gay player in the locker room.

Brendon Ayanbadejo, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, the team which won this year’s Super Bowl, and Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings, also wrote an amicus brief, and filed it, urging the Supreme Court to act against legislation preventing equal marriage.

• Nov 29 2023

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