Red Sox All-Star Jarren Duran apologizes for directing homophobic slur toward fan
Red Sox All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran issued a statement Sunday apologizing for using a homophobic slur directed toward a fan during Sunday’s 10-2 loss to the Astros, describing the term as a “truly horrific word.”
The incident happened in the home half of the sixth inning. Duran was being heckled by a fan in the crowd, who was screaming, “Tennis racket! Tennis racket! You need a tennis racket!” During the live broadcast, the NESN mics picked up Duran telling the fan to “shut up,” followed by the slur.
The exchange with the fan also comes after Duran was honored during a pregame ceremony as the team’s recipient of the Heart and Hustle Award, which recognizes one player per team who “demonstrates a passion for the game and best embodies its values, spirit, and traditions.”
The 27-year-old outfielder released a statement following the game regarding the incident Sunday afternoon.
“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan,” Duran said in a statement issued by the team. “I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.”
The Red Sox also issued a statement.
“The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today’s game,” the team said. “We echo Jarren’s apology to our fans, especially to the LGBTQ community. We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches, and staff on the importance of inclusivity.”
The club did not announce whether they’d discipline Duran for the use of the slur, nor has Major League Baseball come out and made a statement on the incident. Players have been disciplined in the past for the use of slurs while playing during the game.
Most recently, the league fined former Astros reliever Hector Neris after Mariners players alleged he used a slur directed toward superstar Julio Rodríguez. MLB suspended former Red Sox outfielder Kevin Pillar in 2017 for using an anti-gay slur directed towards a Braves pitcher during a game in Atlanta. In 2012, Blue Jays infielder Yunel Escobar was suspended three games for wearing eye black with slurs written in Spanish.
This is not Duran’s first run in with fans; he exchanged pleasantries with people in the crowd during a series in Kansas City back in 2022.
Skipper Alex Cora has been open publicly to the media on his goal to see Duran play all 162 games this season. Should the team or the league suspend Duran for his use of the slur on Sunday for any number of games, his quest to play in every game would come to an end, and at a bad time when the team is losing ground in the American League Wild Card race.
Duran, is enjoying a breakout season for the Red Sox, was a first-time All-Star and was named All-Star Game MVP last month.
