After being hit with a $100,000 NBA
fine for using an anti-gay slur, Los
Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant says “words can be
hurtful” in a new video.
Bryant last week yelled “fucking
faggot”at referee Bennie Adams after he called a technical foul
against Bryant during Tuesday night's game against the San Antonio
Spurs.
NBA Commissioner David Stern fined the
five-time NBA champion $100,000 for the insult.
Bryant apologized for his outburst, but
added that he would appeal the fine, prompting
former NBA player John Amaechi, who is gay, to criticize the move in
an op-ed published in the New York Times.
In a new video released on Wednesday,
Bryant says: “There are all kinds of different people in the world.
That's what makes the world special.”
His teammates add, “So whether
someone is different than you in race, ethnicity, political beliefs,
religion or sexual orientation words can be hurtful,” with Bryant
delivering the gay line.
“Replace them with understanding,
compassion and acceptance. Let's make this a better world for all of
us,” he adds.