Kobe Bryant, the embattled Lakers basketball superstar who Tuesday evening used an anti-gay slur against a referee, causing outrage across the Internet all day Wednesday, apologized via telephone to the president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
Watch: “Kobe Bryant Calls Ref A “Fucking Fag†On Camera (Video)“
“I applaud Kobe Bryant for his swift apology,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We had a very sincere conversation in which he expressed his heartfelt regret for the hurt that his words caused. He told me that it’s never ok to degrade or tease, and that he understands how his words could unfortunately give the wrong impression that this is appropriate conduct.”
Solmonese added, “At the end of a difficult day, I applaud Kobe for coming forward and taking responsibility for his actions.â€
Neither HRC nor Bryant nor the Lakers organization released the exact words that Bryant said.
Read: “Kobe Bryant’s Anti-Gay Slur Slammed By U.K. Rugby Star Ben Cohen“
Bryant called a referee a “fucking fag,” during the game with the Spurs. The epithet was caught on camera Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, Bryant issued what many called a “non-apology,” stating, “What I said last night should not be taken literally.â€
Finding his words first offensive, then insufficient, LGBT organizations such as HRC and GLAAD called for an actual apology. Bryant was fined $100,000 by NBA Commissioner David Stern. Wednesday night, Bryant said he would appeal the fine, then called HRC President Solmonese and apologized.
HRC credited social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, for the quick turnabout and resolution of the incident.
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