Boston Red Sox veteran Jarren Duran has recently come under fire for something he said while addressing a fan. His questionable choice of words has attracted immense backlash, leading the athlete to issue a public apology. But what exactly did Jarren Duran say to cause such controversy?
Here are all the available details regarding the 27-year-old outfielder’s outburst and his subsequent acknowledgment of his actions.
What did Jarren Duran say to a fan?
During his team’s game against the Houston Astros over the weekend, Jarren Duran used a homophobic slur while responding to a fan.
The heated exchange occurred when the American sportsman was at the plate during the game’s sixth inning. Duran was on his last attempt, having experienced two consecutive strikeouts at the time. To mock his struggles, a fan at Fenway Park heckled Jarren Duran by saying that he might need a tennis racket to play well. An angered Duran immediately responded by asking the fan to shut up before calling him a fa**ot.
As a result, the 2024 All-Star Game MVP has received significant criticism for his unprofessional behavior. He has since apologized publicly for his comments, as reported by The Guardian. “During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan,” said Jarren Duran.
“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.”
The Boston Red Sox have also echoed Duran’s post-controversy statements, issuing an apology of their own. “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,” the team said. (via ESPN)
Jarren Duran walked off the field following the conclusion of the at-bat, with his team eventually losing the match 10-2.
