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Baseball fans are embarrassing themselves with their reaction to Boston Red Sox shortstop Jarren Duran, who was suspended for two games after he was caught on microphone hurling a homophobic slur at a paying customer.
During a game against the Houston Astro on Sunday, August 11, Jarren Duran called an audience member who simply chanted “You need a tennis racket” a “fucking f—–.” Millennials may remember being told in elementary school that the word also meant a pack of cigarettes.
Duran, who was nominated for the All-Star game for the first time this season, immediately apologized and said he felt “terrible” for insulting the LGBTQ community.
“During today’s game, I used a really horrible word toward a fan. I feel terrible thinking about how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly, to the entire LGBTQ community.” said Duran in his apology.
“During today’s game, I used a truly horrible word in response to a fan. I feel terrible thinking about how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans should be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and grow as a person.”
After Duran’s suspension, sales of his jersey skyrocketed, and on Wednesday, August 14, it took the top spot in the MLB Shop after selling out in all sizes. As of Thursday, August 15, at 9 a.m., Duran’s jersey is no longer on the MLB Shop’s best sellers list, possibly because it sold out.
While phenomena like this have occurred before – Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s jersey sales skyrocketed after his controversial graduation speech this summer – what makes Duran’s case particularly troubling is the fact that he made no political or social statement, but simply used an offensive slur that has been known to be offensive for decades.
Imagine for a second that you went to work and were filmed calling someone a motherfucker. How do you think that would work for you? Why not just try it? You won’t, because you know that not only will you get fired for it, but it’s the wrong thing to do. For some reason, baseball fans seem to celebrate Duran for doing just that.
