Kobe Bryant Directs Anti-Gay Slur at Referee, Fined $100,000 (VIDEO)
Kobe Bryant wasn't happy when referee Bennie Adams hit him with a technical in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the San Antonio Tuesday night.
In fact, after Kobe had taken a seat on the bench, TNT's camera caught him directing a gay slur at Adams.
"You might want to take the camera off him right now for the children watching at home," TNT analyst Steve Kerr suggested during Bryant's outburst.
On Wednesday, Bryant apologized for his language, issuing this statement:
"What I said last night should not be taken literally. 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."
Bryant has since been fined $100,000 for the incident, according to the LA Times.
"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night's game was offensive and inexcusable," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. "While I'm fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated. Accordingly, I have fined Kobe $100,000. Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society."
You can see the incident in the video below. Although the slur isn't audible, you don't need to be much of a lip reader to figure out what it is.