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Video: ESPN Analyst Sparks Controversy With Comments on NBA Player’s Coming Out

Apr 30, 2013  •  Post A Comment

An ESPN analyst stirred controversy during a segment about NBA player Jason Collins’ coming out, in which the analyst said he doesn’t agree with homosexuality and called it a sin, reports EW.com’s Inside TV.

Analyst Chris Broussard, a senior writer for ESPN the Magazine, said on the air that "true tolerance and acceptance is being able to … not criticize each other and call each other names" and then gave his damning views on a number of what he called "lifestyles."

"If you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says, ‘You know them by their fruits,’ it says that that’s a sin,” Broussard said. “And if you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality — adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be — I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ, so I would not characterize that person as a Christian.”

Broussard also said Collins is “walking in open rebellion to God and Jesus Christ.” His comments were made Monday during a special one-hour episode of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” focusing on Collins’ essay in Sports Illustrated in which he announced he is gay. Collins became the first openly gay male in a major professional team sport in the U.S.

Collins wrote in the piece: “I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding.”

EW notes: “Broussard had previously written about his belief that homosexuality is a sin in a 2009 blog post. In that post, he stated that the NBA is ‘ready for an openly gay player,’ though he also admitted that if he had to share a locker room and shower with gay teammates, he would be ‘a little uncomfortable at first.’”

After Broussard’s latest comments sparked some unfavorable responses, ESPN issued a statement in which it said it is "fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement." It added, "We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news."

Here’s a clip of Broussard’s comments:

2 Comments

  1. Does ESPN’s commitment to diversity include racist and sexist announcers too?

  2. “[R]espectful discussion of personal viewpoints” was what they called it, and frankly, that was fairly accurate.

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