Los Angeles Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant has apologized following an incident with official Bennie Adams during Tuesday night’s contest.
Bryant’s reaction was caught on camera on TNT’s telecast between the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. After getting hit with the T, Bryant he stormed to the bench and then yelled, “Bennie!” toward the court. He then leaned back and muttered what appeared to be a gay slur.
Bryant issued a statement Wednesday afternoon.
“What I said last night should not be taken literally,” he said. “My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.”
Watch the incident below:
“Obviously nothing to that effect, which is why I wanted to talk about it,” Bryant told ESPN Radio Los Angeles. “I mean, obviously I issued a statement and things of that nature, but the concern that I have is for those that follow what I say, or inspired by how I play or look to me as a role model or whatever it is, to not take what was said as something as a message of hate, or a license to degrade, or embarrass or tease.”
“Because that’s something I don’t want to have happen. It’s important for me to talk about that issue because it’s important to be who you are, and I don’t want this issue to be a part of, or magnify, something that shouldn’t be.”
Bryant is reportedly appealing the fine.
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