00:00The Boston Red Sox and Major League Baseball have suspended outfielder Jaron Durant for
00:05two games after he uttered an anti-gay slur at a fan during the team's loss Sunday to
00:09the Houston Astros.
00:11Durant's suspension will begin with Monday's game against the Texas Rangers.
00:15The Red Sox also announced that Durant's salary from the suspension will be donated
00:19to flagged formerly called parents, families, and friends of lesbians and gays.
00:24Durant, 27, apologized in a statement Sunday night for using a truly horrific word when
00:30responding to a fan.
00:32The suspension is in line with MLB's past discipline for the use of anti-gay slurs.
00:37In 2017, the league suspended Oakland Athletics outfielder Matt Joyce to games for directing
00:42an anti-gay slur at a fan.
00:44That same season, then-Toronto outfielder Kevin Pillar was banned to games after uttering
00:49a similar slur used by Durant at Atlanta reliever Jason Ma, who Pillar believed had
00:54struck him out on a quick pitch.
00:56In 2012, Blue Jays infielder Unilesco Barr received a three-game suspension for wearing
01:02eye-black stickers with an anti-gay slur in Spanish.
01:05During tonight's game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan, Durant said
01:10in a statement released by the Red Sox on Sunday.
01:13I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed.
01:17I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community.
01:24Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight
01:29I fell far short of that responsibility.
01:31I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.
01:36Durant is in the midst of a breakout season for the Red Sox, who have lost four consecutive
01:41games to fall three games behind Kansas City for the final wild-card spot in the American
01:46League.
01:47He ranks among the top 10 players in MLB in wins above replacement and is hitting .291-350-503
01:55with 14 home runs and 29 stolen bases.
01:58Durant was named All-Star Game MVP after hitting a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning.
02:03We echo Jarron's apology to our fans, especially to the LGBTQ community, the Red Sox said in
02:10a statement.
02:11We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park.
02:15And we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance
02:19of inclusivity.
02:21In consultation with Major League Baseball, the Red Sox today issued an unpaid two-game
02:25suspension to outfielder Jarron Durant beginning with tonight's game against the Texas Rangers
02:30at Fenway Park, the club statement says.
02:33Additionally, Durant's salary from the two-game suspension will be donated to Flag Federation
02:37of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, the United States' largest organization
02:42dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
02:49queer people and those who love them.
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