Here’s the Associated Press reporting:
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is apologizing for a photograph that shows him making the same gesture with anti-Semitic connotations also made by French soccer star Nicolas Anelka this weekend. The photograph shows Parker and a French comedian making a gesture known in France as a “quenelle,” which critics describe as inverted Nazi salute. Parker said Monday in a statement released by the Spurs that the photograph was taken three years ago.
And from InsideHoops.com:
Tony Parker released the following statement earlier today: “While this gesture has been part of French culture for many years, it was not until recently that I learned of the very negative concerns associated with it. When l was photographed making that gesture three years ago, I thought it was part of a comedy act and did not know that it could be in any way offensive or harmful. Since I have been made aware of the seriousness of this gesture, I will certainly never repeat the gesture and sincerely apologize for any misunderstanding or harm relating to my actions. Hopefully this incident will serve to educate others that we need to be more aware that things that may seem innocuous can actually have a history of hate and hurt.”
More from InsideHoops.com:
We believe Tony Parker simply made an innocent mistake. Parker’s a good guy.
That aside, Dieudonne M’bala M’bala’ is a disgusting, vile bigot. He is an “activist” and former “comedian” in France who basically runs around promoting hate.
Anyway, back to basketball!
