LeBron James apologizes for using the word "retarded"

[Basketball Fan]

Surprised this wasn't a bigger story but with it being SB week it probably wasn't going to be.

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/10374028/lebron-james-miami-heat-apologizes-use-word-retarded


LeBron James apologizes for word

MIAMI -- LeBron James of the Miami Heat apologized Wednesday night for using the word "retarded" while answering a question posed in a pregame interview.

James says the word's usage is a bad habit that he's trying to break, and that he'll try not to use it again.

"I mean no disrespect," James said.

The NBA's four-time Most Valuable Player opened his postgame interview session by addressing the matter without being asked. James and the Heat lost Wednesday to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 112-95.

[Legends66NBA7]

He did this during the 2011 playoffs, Game 3 vs Boston post game too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCwb6Mf5aE

[Brokenbeat]

Pauk forgives him.

[TylerOO]

What has this world come to? People can't say retarded anymore? :roll: Pathetic sensitive humans

[AnaheimLakers24]

thats retarded. if i were a ball player i just wouldnt give a ****

[ArbitraryWater]

He did this during the 2011 playoffs, Game 3 vs Boston post game too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCwb6Mf5aE

Laughed so hard at that. Might have been something with "tired" though... retarded or tired.. thats retarded or im tired...

[christian1923]

thats retarded. if i were a ball player i just wouldnt give a ****
And lose your sponsors?

[oarabbus]

What has this world come to? People can't say retarded anymore? :roll: Pathetic sensitive humans

:biggums: :facepalm

If you're famous and use the word "retarded" you will get heat and it's been that way for a long time. You realize that many people have mentally disabled people as family members, right? I say "retarded" pretty often but if your brother or sister has a severe mental disability that word is going to sting.

[buddha]

:biggums: :facepalm

If you're famous and use the word "retarded" you will get heat and it's been that way for a long time. You realize that many people have mentally disabled people as family members, right? I say "retarded" pretty often but if your brother or sister has a severe mental disability that word is going to sting.

that's retarded




pretty soon we won't be allowed to say stupid because it will offend all the stupid people. oh wait, no stupid person thinks they are stupid, nevermind.

[Trollsmasher]

the world has gone soft:facepalm

[Legends66NBA7]

Laughed so hard at that. Might have been something with "tired" though... retarded or tired.. thats retarded or im tired...

No, he called her retarded. James apologized for it too:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/15/lebron-james-miami-heat


Another difficult week for Miami Heat's LeBron James, who has found himself picked up by media throughout the country for referring to a question from a journalist as "retarded" during a press conference.

Facing reporters with team-mate Dwayne Wade after a Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics in the NBA's Eastern Conference semi-finals, he was heard to mumble the word behind his hand as Wade was asked about Miami's alleged dirty play.

As the affair attracted attention the player initially claimed he didn't know what people were talking about, then admitted he had used the term, before finally saying sorry on Monday. "I want to apologize for using the 'R' word after Game 3," he said after the Heat's Game 4 overtime victory. "If I offended anyone, I sincerely apologise."

By then, as James must surely know, the damage was already done. "LeBron James was oblivious that his use of the word 'retarded' was offensive," said the Boston Herald, while the Chicago Sun‑Times noted: "James, who wields more cultural power than almost anyone else, is completely clueless when he demeans and trivializes ... In the game of sensitivity, he shot a giant brick."

Advocacy groups had called for the apology, although since then much has also been made of the $100,000 fine imposed on Kobe Bryant last month when he used a homophobic slur towards a referee during a game. The NBA has, as yet, not announced any plans to fine James.

[tragicbronson]

:biggums: :facepalm

If you're famous and use the word "retarded" you will get heat and it's been that way for a long time. You realize that many people have mentally disabled people as family members, right? I say "retarded" pretty often but if your brother or sister has a severe mental disability that word is going to sting.

still sensitive tho

[Ancient Legend]

In this case he said "It was a retarded question". No biggie.

[sd3035]

Honestly, I think it's retarded how many fake people pretend to be offended be something like that

[ispin69]

Political correctness is retarded. But he gotta make his endorsement money in this retarded society.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFb6NU1giRA

[ArbitraryWater]

No, he called her retarded. James apologized for it too:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/may/15/lebron-james-miami-heat

Damn why he always apologizing... shouldnt have done that imo lol

that went pretty unnoticed too. if it gets heat, kay..

[Is He Ill]

:biggums: :facepalm

If you're famous and use the word "retarded" you will get heat and it's been that way for a long time. You realize that many people have mentally disabled people as family members, right? I say "retarded" pretty often but if your brother or sister has a severe mental disability that word is going to sting.

Stop calling people mentally disabled, you may offend someone.

[HoopsFanNumero1]

ESPN is retarded. Iverson said it best here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEjowp1qIiw). You gotta be fake. Otherwise the media's gonna rip you apart.

[Legends66NBA7]

Damn why he always apologizing... shouldnt have done that imo lol

that went pretty unnoticed too. if it gets heat, kay..

PR and league probably had a word with about what to say and not say. It's a business and the NBA will protect it's brand name.

[oarabbus]

that's retarded



pretty soon we won't be allowed to say stupid because

it will offend all the stupid people. oh wait, no stupid person thinks they are stupid, nevermind.


retarded post, stupid people are meant to be offended



still sensitive tho

don't be retarded


Stop calling people mentally disabled, you may offend someone.

only offensive to retards




And lose your sponsors?


:applause:

We have a winner. Someone who isn't retarded.

[moe94]

lol @ getting upset at people getting upset.

People who try to fight PC shit always crack me up.

[senelcoolidge]

:facepalm you can't even use certain words anymore.."retarded = underdeveloped". I know there are some people out there are so sensitive that they can't take a word..a word. We all get our feelings hurt with different things..but come on. This is retarded. I don't think Lebron was trying to insult mentally challenged people..take it on it's context.

[tragicbronson]

retarded post, stupid people are meant to be offended




don't be retarded



only offensive to retards






:applause:

We have a winner. Someone who isn't retarded.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/15/wolf-of-wall-street-disability-cerebral-palsy

So you think that's right, people with cerebral palsy got offended because the actor in the movie said that drug caused certain effects in his body that made him move like he had cerebral palsy, that's straight up sensitive nonsense crap if you ask me. I don't know, if someone doesn't agree with you, you call him retard, that shows lot about you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po8KjgCT7Bg nice discussion similar to this one

[Mr. Jabbar]

bran: i was retarded to use that word...ehh scratch that,, uhmm can we record this again?

[oarabbus]

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jan/15/wolf-of-wall-street-disability-cerebral-palsy

So you think that's right, people with cerebral palsy got offended because the actor in the movie said that drug caused certain effects in his body that made him move like he had cerebral palsy, that's straight up sensitive nonsense crap if you ask me. I don't know, if someone doesn't agree with you, you call him retard, that shows lot about you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po8KjgCT7Bg nice discussion similar to this one

So where is the line? If someone makes an ashtray/gas chamber joke and Jewish people get offended they are overly sensitive? If someone makes fun of paralyzed people and paraplegics get offended they are overly sensitive? If someone says black people are like monkeys and someone goes calls up the NCAAP they are just overly sensitive? Or are those things not OK, but making fun of mentally retarded people and cerebral palsy is OK? :confusedshrug:


"I don't know, if someone doesn't agree with you, you call him retard, that shows lot about you."

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here because I was obviously being facetious in my post where I called everyone a retard.

[Rake2204]

I thought the Michael Scott Rule had been implemented years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOLbuFVG0fs

[All Net]

Sadly it is a natural reaction.

[tragicbronson]

So where is the line? If someone makes an ashtray/gas chamber joke and Jewish people get offended they are overly sensitive? If someone makes fun of paralyzed people and paraplegics get offended they are overly sensitive? If someone says black people are like monkeys and someone goes calls up the NCAAP they are just overly sensitive? Or are those things not OK, but making fun of mentally retarded people and cerebral palsy is OK? :confusedshrug:


"I don't know, if someone doesn't agree with you, you call him retard, that shows lot about you."

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here because I was obviously being facetious in my post where I called everyone a retard.

I think that it's acceptable until it becomes offensive directly towards certain groups of people, lebron used word retarded to describe something not really intelligent and no offense but if retarded person gets offended if someone use this word this way it really is retarded because their iq is below average and this is a fact, lebron didn't say retarded people should be erased from the planet or they don't deserve to live or anything like this. Same with cerebral palsy, they weren't directly offended, we know how this illness looks like they can't deny that they have certain problems, etc etc, sometimes it's hard to draw the line but i think "retarded" and "cerebral palsy" are straight up plain sensitive and people who used their characteristics didn't mean to hurt them or insult in any way.

[Illuminati]

The media is retarded.

[Trollsmasher]

The society is retarded.
fixed

[NumberSix]

Don't say "retarded". Say "gay", "German" or "protestant".



Example: "Your moves are just gay"

[KyrieTheFuture]

I honestly see no problem with saying *****, ******, retarded, etc. It's way more about the meaning you put behind it then the word itself. Do you think a black guy would get less mad at me for saying you ****ing negro? Or if I laughed and pointed and said look at that mentally handicapped person that it would be less hurtful? Called a gay guy a homosexual? Obviously I wouldn't do any of those things, but using ***** in a non hateful way, retarded in a non hateful way, should not be a problem. See the South Park episode about **** for more reference.

Meanings of words change, instead of trying to ban words (censorship) accept that they don't mean what they used to.

I'd bet my house on the fact that all these "hateful" words are used in non hateful ways at least 3 times as much as they are used in hate speech.

[Rondo]

He did this during the 2011 playoffs, Game 3 vs Boston post game too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCwb6Mf5aE

Funniest thing there is Wade claiming he's not a dirty player :oldlol:

[MP.Trey]

Don't say "retarded". Say "gay", "German" or "protestant".



Example: "Your moves are just gay"
:whatever:

[oarabbus]

Don't say "retarded". Say "gay", "German" or "protestant".



Example: "Your moves are just gay"


Don't be protestant, you god damn German. :lol

[Combat Wombat]

As he should. That's no way to treat your fan base regardless of its accuracy.

[outbreak]

As he should. That's no way to treat your fan base regardless of its accuracy.
http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/tee-hee.gif

[Embers]

"I shouldnt use the word retarded, thats so ****ing gay"