Gay slurs by Kansas City Chiefs running
back Larry Johnson have left him barred from practice and other team
activities, NFL.com reported.
Johnson allegedly used a gay slur in
public venues twice since Sunday, including one directed at reporters
in the locker room.
On Sunday, Johnson belittled coach Todd
Haley in a Twitter post, saying Johnson's father “played for the
coach from 'remember the titans'” and Haley “played golf.” He
went on to insult a follower, calling his profile picture a “fag
pic” and the person a “Christopher street boy,” a reference to
being gay.
The next day, while refusing to answer
questions from reporters in the locker room, Johnson said, “I'm not
talking till Thursday,” then whispered, “Get your faggot ass out
of here,” according to The Kansas City Star. Thursday is
the team's scheduled press day.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD), a media watchdog group, immediately called for an
apology.
“Professional athletes who use this
word need to be held accountable for giving a license to youth to
bully their peers,” GLAAD President Jarrett
Barrios said on the group's blog. “NFL officials and the
Kansas City Chiefs need to take disciplinary action to condemn this
and future uses of all anti-gay epithets.”
The team said Tuesday it would
investigate both allegations and apparently sidelined Johnson
indefinitely.
“The Kansas City Chiefs and the
National Football League are continuing to investigate the alleged
comments made by Larry Johnson,” the team said in a statement.
“Until that review is complete, the Chiefs have instructed Larry to
refrain from practicing with the Chiefs or participating in other
team activities. A decision regarding Larry's status will be made
once the investigation has concluded.”
In a statement released Tuesday,
Johnson apologized, saying “the words were used by me in
frustration, and they were not appropriate.”
“I did not intend to offend anyone,
but that is no excuse for what I said,” he added.
Johnson's apology, however, didn't stop
39-year legendary Kansas City sportscaster Jack Harry to call for
Johnson to be sacked, saying he “really crossed the line.”
“Larry Johnson might have tweeted
himself off the team,” Harry said in a televised editorial. “Let's
face it, he's nothing but a problem maker. But the real reason you
want to run him out of town is for the safety of all women in our
city.”
Johnson has been arrested four times
since 2003 on various assault charges against women. He's currently
serving two years probation from two incidents in 2008. One woman
claims Johnson threw a drink at her, while another says he pushed her
head at a nightclub.