Tim Hardaway Apologizes For 2007 Homophobic Comments
Former NBA star Tim Hardaway is reflecting and expressing regret over homophobic remarks he made 15 years ago.
Speaking with the San Francisco Chronicle, the former Miami Heat guard explained his reasoning behind the ugly comments that were made on a Miami radio station. Hardaway says his religious upbringing was partially responsible for the controversial remarks.
“I grew up in a church, and that’s the way churches were — they instilled in you that (homosexuality) wasn’t the way you should be,” Hardaway told the newspaper. “I was just taught differently. Don’t talk to them, don’t mess with them, leave them alone. I never tried to talk bad about them or do hateful stuff. It was just my upbringing in church. But I’ll tell you this: It was so wrong of me, and people have suffered. I had to grow up and really do some soul-searching. What I said was just hurtful.”
Hardaway, who was already retired, made the comments during a 2007 appearance on Dan Le Batard’s radio program after being asked about former NBA star John Amaechi, who came out as gay.
“Well, you know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known,” Hardaway said at the time. “I don’t like gay people. I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world…or in the United States.”
On Sept. 10, Hardaway will be inducted into Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2022.
