The Boston Red Sox have announced that center fielder Jarren Duran will serve a two-game suspension following an incident where he was reported to have directed a homophobic slur at a fan during the game against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
His salary for the two-game suspension will be donated to PFLAG, an organization known as the Federation of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, which describes itself as “the nation’s largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.” The incident took place during the sixth inning on Sunday while Duran was at the plate. After stepping out with a 1-2 count, he was heckled by a fan, and the NESN broadcast microphone captured him responding with, “Shut up, you f—–g [homophobic slur].” Following the Red Sox’s 10-2 loss, Duran issued a statement through the team:
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“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. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.”
The Red Sox organization also spoke out saying, “The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today’s game. We echo Jarren’s apology to our fans, especially to the LGBTQ community. We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance of inclusivity.”
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On Monday, soon after the news of his suspension was made public, Duran spoke to reporters, admitting that he “let the moment get the best of me” and explained that he used the slur “in the heat of the moment.”
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