The NBA announced yesterday that they will fine Anthony Edwards $40,000 over a now deleted anti-gay Instagram video. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard posted a video of himself using a homophobic slur to mock a group of men on the weekend of Sept. 10. This was followed by the video being deleted and Edwards issuing an apology the following day. The NBA has called Edwards’ language “offensive and derogatory.”
Edwards made his apology via Twitter, “what I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredibly sorry,” he said. “It’s unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, there’s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!”
The Minnesota Timberwolves also condemned his actions by releasing a statement saying that they’re disappointed by Edwards words and choices. The team President of Basketball Operations, Tim Connelly, responded to what happened by saying that “the Timberwolves are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming organization for all and apologize for the offense this has caused to so many.”
The fine does not come as a surprise as the NBA fined Kevin Durant $50,000 for private homophobic messages sent to Michael Rapaport just last year.