Boston Red Sox Baseball Star Jarren Duran Suspended For Using Anti-Gay Slur On Live TV

Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox has been suspended from two MLB games for using an anti-gay slur that was caught on a mic during a live broadcast of the game.

NESN aired the game, which caught Duran directing a homophobic slur at a heckling fan during a game against the Houston Astros.

“Tennis racket! Tennis rackter! You need a tennis racket,” the fan is heard saying, to which Duran responds, “Shut up, you f***ing f*****.”

After the moment, the MLB took action and suspended Duran for the next two games without pay.

“In consultation with Major League Baseball, the Red Sox today issued an unpaid two-game suspension to outfielder Jarren Duran beginning with tonight’s game against the Texas Rangers,” read a statement from the Red Sox.

The team said that the salary from Duran’s two-game suspension would be donated to PFLAG (Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), which is a U.S. “organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and those who love them.”

Duran apologized for using the slur at the fan following the game, and the team released a statement saying, “During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing 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 are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility.”

Earlier that night, Duran had been honored with the Heart and Hustle Award, which recognises players “who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”

Duran noted he would use the incident to educate himself and grow as a person.