English rugby star Ben Cohen — no stranger to professional sports or the intense pressure athletes face — today issued a statement opposing Kobe Bryant’s use of the term “fucking fag,” in a game Tuesday evening. “It is disappointing to see this,” Cohen (photo: holding camera, left) said. “As a professional athlete and rugby World Cup champion, I understand the heat and passion of competition at the highest levels. But we must all remember that strong bodies must be balanced with strong characters, and work toward that end,” the 32-year old straight ally and gay-friendly icon said. “Our positions as role models demand it.â€
Read: “Apology? Kobe Bryant: I Didn’t Mean The Word “Fag†Literally.“
Watch: “Kobe Bryant Calls Ref A “Fucking Fag†On Camera (Video)“
No American professional athlete has yet to make a statement on the issue.