Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry
Johnson's career with the football team is over, the
Kansas City Star reported. Johnson was sacked by the Chiefs on
the day he was scheduled to return to work after facing disciplinary
action over gay slurs.
Johnson allegedly used gay slurs in
public venues twice during a 24-hour period, including one directed
at reporters in the locker room.
In an October 25 Twitter post, Johnson
belittled coach Todd Haley, 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 paper. 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.”
Johnson apologized to everyone involved
– from coach Haley to the youth who view him as a role model –
except the gay community. “I did not intend to offend anyone, but
that is no excuse for what I said,” Johnson said.
Chiefs management barred Johnson from
practice and other team activities until Monday, November 9, leaving
him out of play from a single November 8 game against Jacksonville.
But on Monday, management announced it would release Johnson,
instead.
“A part of him is excited and a part
of him is very regretful,” Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, told
the Associated Press. “There's a lot of feelings going on
right now. It's analogous to breaking up with a girlfriend. Maybe
you saw it coming, but it still hurts when it happens.”
After the incident, 39-year legendary
Kansas City sportscaster Jack Harry called for Johnson to be sacked,
saying he “really crossed the line.”
“Let's face it, he's nothing but a
problem maker,” Harry said in a televised editorial. “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.