Kobe’s Mouth Has Gotten Him In Trouble-AGAIN

Looks like Kobe' Bryant's big mouth has gotten him into trouble again! The NBA has fined Kobe Bryant $100,000 on Wednesday for "offensive and inexcusable" comments he made during Tuesday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs, when he used an expletive and an anti-gay slur directed towards a referee after getting slammed with a tech foul. 

On Wednesday night, Kobe called Joe Solomonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, and apologized for using the slur.

"We had a very sincere conversation in which he expressed his heartfelt regret for the hurt that his words caused," Solomonese said. "He told me that it's never OK to degrade or tease, and that he understands how his words could unfortunately give the wrong impression that this is appropriate conduct. At the end of a difficult day, I applaud Kobe for coming forward and taking responsibility for his actions."

Kobe did issue a statement expressing that his rant should not be taken "literally".

"My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period," he said. "The words expressed do not reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were not meant to offend anyone."

However, not everyone is letting this go so easily. NBA Commissioner David Stern in a statement,

"Kobe Bryant's comment during last night's game was offensive and inexcusable. 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."

The Human Rights Campaign said earlier it supports the fine.

"We applaud Commissioner Stern and the NBA for not only fining Bryant but for recognizing that slurs and derogatory comments have no place on the basketball court or in society at large," Solomonese said. "We hope such swift and decisive action will send a strong and universal message that this kind of hateful outburst is simply inexcusable no matter what the context."

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation also issued a statement supporting the action:

"The NBA has sent a clear message to sports fans everywhere that anti-gay slurs have no place in the game," said Jarrett Barrios, president of the organization. "... This decision will serve as an important precedent that will help ensure a safer, more inclusive environment for fans and players everywhere, and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with the NBA."

Dang, Kobe. Next time just keep your mouth closed!

Source: CNN