"I hate gay people. I let it be known. I don't like to be around gay people. I'm homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States.”
Former Miami Heat player Tim Hardaway isn’t the same person he was when he uttered those painful daggers of words two years ago. Or that’s what he’d like you, the NBA and interested endorsers to believe.
Just ahead of a Tim Hardaway Foundation event benefiting The Trevor Project in Miami, Hardaway has released a statement that reveals his more tolerant self: “Gays and lesbians, we don’t have to accept the act, but we have to accept them as people. Especially children, we don’t want them to kill themselves. We want them to live their lives as they want to.”
Live their lives as they want to, that is, unless they’re one of Mr. Hardaway’s teammates. “We have a right to know. We’d say, `How do you want to do this? Do you want to go into the shower first, or do you want me to go into the shower first?’”
But the reasoning behind the half-assed (or perhaps sincere-as-he-can-be) apology becomes clear at the end of Hardaway’s statement.
“The endorsements will never come back. People have taken that and it’s gone. I understand that. I’m trying to look for work and provide for my family. All that stuff has left me high and dry. I have to dig for work.”
Ahh, Mr. Hardaway will tolerate gays – but won’t shower near them! – if it means he can get a few endorsement deals back. Well, at least this forced PR apology will benefit The Trevor Project.
Do you think Hardaway’s change is genuine? Is he forgiven for his damaging words from 2007?
Comments (6)
... written by Kyan,
September 16, 2009
Genuine as Lisa Rinna's lips. But at least Trevor Proj benefits from his forced goodwill.
+0
... written by Jeff Katz,
September 16, 2009
Lame. So, does this mean he will or won't turn down work if it meant working with a gay executive offering an endorsement?
+0
... written by A Gener,
September 16, 2009
Whatevs!
+0
... written by RJTamayo,
September 16, 2009
“Gays and lesbians, we don’t have to accept the act, but we have to accept them as people".
So he's saying hate the sin love the sinner? What a back handed compliment! He is being a self serving hypocrite. Much in the same vein most Christians justify their persecution of gays. I know the Trevor Project would benefit greatly, but couldn't they find some other spokesperson who has genuine compassion for GLBT's?
+0
... written by TJarboe,
September 16, 2009
HAHAHA Kyan, too funny!!!
I agree, this guy is a total douche! If he thinks this jank apology is going to get him back in the good graces of the gay community... he clearly doesn't know (or care about) the gays AT ALL!!!
+0
... written by cherrychapstick,
September 16, 2009
I don't think he cares at all about getting in our good graces @TJarboe
