August 14th 2024.
The Boston Red Sox organization recently made a public announcement regarding the suspension of one of their players, outfielder Jarren Duran. This suspension came after Duran reportedly used a homophobic slur towards a fan who was heckling him during a game. This incident occurred during a press conference where Duran, who was named the MVP of the 2024 All-Star game, stated that he believed his microphone had been turned off after he used the slur towards the fan.
According to reports from CNN, Duran was at bat during a home game against the Houston Astros on August 11th when a fan began heckling him. In response, Duran can be heard on the mic that he was wearing on his uniform saying, "shut up you f**king f***ot." The audio of this incident was picked up by NESN and later shared on social media by Awful Announcing.
It was revealed by The Athletic that during the press conference, Duran made an effort to take responsibility for his actions and apologize. However, his message may have been overshadowed by the fact that he was wearing a shirt that read "F**k 'em" underneath his uniform. Duran has been wearing this shirt all season as a reminder to block out negative noise and has been open about his struggles with mental health.
Duran began the press conference by addressing the fans who had reached out to him expressing disappointment in his actions. He stated, "I just wanted to let them know that I'm sorry for my actions and I'm gonna work on being better for them." He then went on to deny any malicious intent behind his use of the slur, saying, "There was no intent behind the word that was used. It was just the heat of the moment and just happened to be said. It's on me for that word coming out. But there was no intent behind that word being used."
Duran also shared that he had apologized to the umpire and catcher for his language, as they were close enough to hear him. He assumed that his microphone had been cut off due to his inappropriate words and that is why it was not picked up by the audio. The Red Sox organization later announced that Duran would be suspended for two games and his game paychecks, totaling around $8,200, would be donated to an organization supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and their loved ones.
Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy spoke to The Athletic about the decision to suspend Duran, stating that they had consulted with Major League Baseball in determining the appropriate punishment. Kennedy also shared that all MLB players, coaches, and front offices undergo a diversity, equity, and inclusion program, but more work still needs to be done in that area.
Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow also spoke to The Athletic, expressing disappointment in the incident and acknowledging that there is still a lot of progress to be made in terms of diversity and inclusion in the league. He also commended Duran for taking accountability and striving to do better. Breslow stated, "I think, at the same time, we see that Jarren, as a leader that he may be, is also flawed. We all are."
In conclusion, this incident has shed light on the ongoing need for progress in diversity and inclusion within the MLB. While Duran's actions were disappointing, he has shown a willingness to take responsibility and work towards improvement. The Red Sox organization, along with MLB, will continue to address these issues and strive for a more inclusive and accepting environment for all players and fans.
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