KC Chiefs Suspend RB Larry Johnson for 2 Weeks Over Gay Slurs

Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson—who publicly used the words "fag" and "faggot" twice within a 24-hour period—was given what amounts to a one-game suspension. The Chiefs said Johnson would be suspended until Monday Nov. 9 for "conduct detrimental to the team" and the game checks and other lost revenue would amount to about a penalty of about $600,000, reports the Kansas City Star.

The Chiefs are off this week and will not play again until traveling to Jacksonville on Nov. 8.

For the past three days, the Chiefs have said they were “investigating” the situation which began after Johnson and the team suffered a major loss to the Chargers. Johnson called reporters "faggots" and called a fan "fag" in a gay-baiting Twitter rant that also insulted his coach.

In the uproar following the anti-gay remarks, the former two-time Pro Bowl player "apologized" to NFL fans, Chiefs fans, teammates and staff—everyone but gays. It was obvious Johnson was not sorry about demeaning gays. Kudos to the Kansas City Chiefs for hitting Johnson—who boasts on Twitter about how much money he makes—where it hurts.

Johnson becomes the latest footballer to be disciplined under tougher new NFL regulations. Cowboys TE Martellus Bennett was fined for his ridiculous homophobic, n-word laced YouTube "rap".

Background:
RB Larry Johnson Says "Faggot" to Critics and Reporters
Martellus Bennett Fined for Profanity-Laced, Homophobic Rap

Comments

[Carlos]

Good. Maybe during his off time he can hang out on Christopher Street or somewhere. SMH.

What a sad and confused man. All that money and not an ounce of common decency.

Pathetic.

[TheRevKev]

Carlos,

He has all that money and success adn not an ounce of COMMON SENSE!

Thankfully, the Chiefs were swift and clear. WATCH YOUR MOUTH! I appreciate this kind of clear and decisive movement on the part of the NFL.

I am sick, tired and angry at athletes, being blessed by the full entertainment value and superstardom of professional sports, doing stupid things and trying to suggest its just "the way athletes are." Well, thanks to Rod 2.0, we know better than that and know that there are athletes who actually studied while they were in school and some who live in the real world, with diverse kinds of people.

Maybe while Johnson is at home, he can search the internet, find Rod 2.0, read some amazing stories and get some sense!

Well, at least that's what I pray in my world!

Peace/Power/Purpose,
Rev. Kev

[Mel Smith]

Johnson is the reason why I don't like most black heterosexual people.

Yes, I said I don't like most heterosexual black people because they disrespect us in the SAME EXACT MANNER racists oppressed them.

As a 29-year-old black male that happens to be gay, I have every GOT DAMN RIGHT TO FEEL HOW I FEEL.

I don't give a damn if the heterosexual blacks get offended by me comparing the prejudice we face by them to the prejudice they faced by racists.

They know we are telling the truth, and that is why they get so offended.

That coward as$ football player Larry Johnson and people like him make me sick.

[Derrick from Philly]

Mel,

I feel everything you feel. I even believe that you deal with the pain caused by black homophobia MUCH MUCH better than I do ('member I can sure toss down some hard liquor. Why? See, I don't like to lie to myself). I also agree with the poster, KEVIN PEREZ, when he speaks so eloguently about the damage done to black/Latino gay people by the cruel oppression of black anti-gay hatred.

My problem (and my anger) comes in when white racist homosexuals use these incidents of black anti-gay hatred to attack black folks in general. Today, on Towleroad, this story and the "Birmingham Mayor" story were posted. The racist comments began, and those of us blacks who are Towleroad "regulars" lost patience quicker than usual. The issue of black homophobia is a delight to white racist homos...they feed on it.

Black anti-gay hatred hurts black gay people more than anybody. We don't need white homosexuals doubling that hurt. If I've learned to live...exist with the physical and emotinal scars left by black anti-gay bigots, I don't need some white "child" to tell me how awful black people are. What does it mean to "her"?

And remember, not all black gay folks are nice to each other either. There some evil black b-tches in this gay world who don't mean you no good-- anymore than the KKK white b-tches do (I've had my run-ins with some right here on Rod 2.0). But that's all right-- My straight-razor can cut on white or black skin, honey--it has before....Lord, I am threw today.

[Mr. FAMU]

"[T]he job of the gay community is not to deal with extremists who would castigate us or put us on an island and drop an H-bomb on us. The fact of the matter is that there is a small percentage of people in America who understand the true nature of the homosexual community. There is another small percentage who will never understand us. Our job is not to get those people who dislike us to love us. Nor was our aim in the civil rights movement to get prejudiced white people to love us. Our aim was to try to create the kind of America, legislatively, morally, and psychologically, such that even though some whites continued to hate us, they could not openly manifest that hate. That's our job today: to control the extent to which people can publicly manifest antigay sentiment."

--Bayard Rustin

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Was our grandpa Bayard a visionary or what! He was so ahead of his time truly one of the best minds this country has ever had. His quote sums up this idiot and the response he has received perfectly.

[kayman]

SMH, Larry Johnson is such a closet case that it's not funny. He needs to come to terms about his own sexuality and just deal with because all this anger towards the world is only going to bring him more troubles.

[Alexys Rodriguez]

As much progress as this country as made, I was just reminded about how far we have to go. Today while checking my blackplanet account I came across an article about Larry Johnson's punishment. The comments left by people were appalling; from the religious fanatics to the out right ignorant claims that homophobia can't be compared to racism because "homosexuals didn't go through slavery". I think we are going to need to have a stronger louder voice if any progress is going to be made. I think more community outreach and not just for our own but the entire black and latino community from an LGBT organization will foster at least new lines of communication.

[Dluv]

You know kayman, I don't think this guy is even gay. He's just a plain ole idiot! I'm sure he's scratching his head right now trying to figure out what he said that was so bad and why he got suspended. And I'm sure the other overpaid baboons on his team are wondering the same thing while they're beating there wives (or baby mommas) and shooting guns off in clubs. Actually, I'll ask Larry what he was thinking ten years from now when he's mowing my lawn. Or maybe five. Am I stereotyping athletes? F*ck yeah!

[U Street]

So Larry Johnson can't call people on Twitter a fag but we can?

And no i don't think he is closeted some of us go there every time a black man says so called homophobic things. obviously he has some issues i have seen him around DC and MD with women so he is definitely NOT gay or bi.

he said he was sorry. See this is why they hate u! we want to make a big deal out of everything. Now he is losing a half million you can bet he hates gays now!

[Mel Smith]

Derrick in Philly, I agree with EVERYTHING you typed, but heterosexual blacks just make me sick to my stomach. And some black gays are the lowest of the low.

The white gays are just upset that an oppressed people would turn around and be prejudice towards others.

I visit towleroad.com often, and read your comments. I like how you educate white gays.

Derrick, you might be stronger than me, because I really don't care about racial insults being hurled at black heterosexuals. It offends me when I read the racist comments, but I will not defend heterosexual blacks.

Decent black gays like us have to deal with this racist and homophobic sh!t.

[Whatuthink]

I guess he'll spend his 2 weeks on Adam4Adam looking for release.

[rxntx]

INSECURITY is such a BIATCH Larry

[New Yorker]

Anyone know if you can get suspended WITH pay or is it always a suspension WITHOUT pay? Just curious because the only thing that will teach him to shut his mouth is if you hit him wear it hurts (in his pockets)!

[Mel Smith]

Mr. Famu, thank you for typing Bayard Rustin's quote. EVERY gay person should know who Bayard Rustin was. He taught Dr. King about nonviolence, and he was the leader of the historic 1963 March on Washington Movemnet.

[Mel Smith]

U Street is such a self-hating individual.

[Derrick from Philly]

@New Yorker,

No, in the NFL (or any pro-sport) it's always suspension without pay. If not, they'd have never got that stupid, evil piece of trade to apologize.

[Chris Cruz]

@ U Street:

You are so very sad, man. Typical church queen who thinks he is better and more "respected" than average gay black man. Pfft.

Let me explain the difference, sweety. Johnson is straight (or so he says) and was using the word to insult. It's called "gay baiting' or homophobia and we are trying to fight against it.

And it wasn't the gays that suspended Larry Johnson. It was his team the Kansas City Chiefs. They also docked his pay. Don't blame us for asserting ourselves when we are right and others are wrong. And thankfully the Chiefs did the right thing.

I could care less if he likes or hates gays. His language was very inappropriate for a professional athlete and role model.

[Chaz]

@ Mel Smith

Work.

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[Mel Smith]

Chaz, I'm glad somebody on this site agree with my points. I just try my best to be real on the issues affecting our people.

[Chitown Kev]

@Mel Smith

Third it, here.

Black straight people won't defend me, why should I defend them? After the time one poster on huff post called me a house n*gger I said, oh, hell to the no...

I haven't visted towleroad in some time since I've been here in Maine (I gotta do a report on that after the campaign is over, esp. about my "passegering while black" episode).

I laugh at those towleroad queens (and read them too) because they don't even have the power to be racist, really.

[Mel Smith]

Chitown Kev, I'm glad you guys understand exactly where I'm coming from.

[Jamari Fox]

LJ is still going to find himself in the club, so think of this as a sudden vaca on his part. You think he cares? Please. He is a mediocre football player with anger issues. No one is checking for him.

[Brent]

Is this the same Larry Johnson (suspect model)who went half on a home with Jay Z in the Trump Tower in New York?