Baseball star who used anti-gay slur against fan faces two game ban
A baseball star who used a homophobic insult against a fan has been punished with a two-game ban.
Matt Joyce, an outfielder for Oakland Athletics used an anti-gay slur against a fan on Friday evening after the two got into an argument.
(Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
The salary that he loses from his two game suspension is being donated to PFLAG National, “the nation’s largest LGBT family and ally organization”.
During the eighth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels, first baseman CJ Cron stopped Joyce’s hard-hit grounder.
As he returned to the dugout, Joyce used the anti-gay slur among several profanities and challenged him to fight.
Speaking to the Associated Press, he explained that as he was walking back to the dugout a fan allegedly yelled some vulgar and obscene words” sparking him to use the offensive and homophobic slurs in retaliation.
He said: “It’s just one of those things that fans kind of get into the game. Obviously, we’re pretty frustrated on our side and I had just hit a ball hard and had Cron make a good play.”
“I was walking back to the dugout and just had a fan yell some vulgar and obscene words. For me, it just wasn’t the right time to say some stuff like that. I fired back and obviously as soon as you fire back you regret saying anything because it’s just not worth it.”
Joyce has since issued an apology for hitting out.
Writing on Twitter, Joyce explained that the slur was apparently not “reflective” of him as a person.
He wrote: “In regard to last night’s incident, I first and foremost want to sincerely apologize to the fans, the Oakland A’s, MLB and the most importantly the LGBTQ community for my comments and actions.
“A fan yelled vulgar and obscene words about me and my family and I let my frustrations and emotions get the better of me.
“I am beyond sorry for the inappropriate language that I used and understand and agree that those words should NEVER come out of someone’s mouth no matter the situation.
“Anyone who knows me will tell you that incident it is not reflective of me as a person, how I treat others, how I live my life and that those hurtful words are not my views.
“I fully support and hope to help the LGBTQ community with their efforts in being treated fairly and intend to let my actions speak louder than anything more that can be said about this truly regrettable moment,” he added.
