Amar’e Stoudemire Spews Homophobia On Camera
This isn't the first time Stoudemire has given us reason to brand him a homophobe
Amar’e Stoudemire, currently playing ball in Israel for Hapoel Jerusalem and recent Martin Luther King Jr. Award winner, told a homophobic “joke” during an interview posted by the Israeli site, Walla Sport. In the clip, a group of American players in the Israeli League were asked if they’d be okay playing with an openly gay teammate.
Most respond with a shrugging acceptance, although one unidentified American did say, “as long as he didn’t mess with me.”
Stoudemire’s response is captured mid-thought, but he does clearly say, “I’m going to shower across the street, make sure my change of clothes are around the corner, and I’m going to drive… take a different route to the gym.”
As he finishes the sentence, Stoudemire cracks a smile. Unsure if Stoudemire is being serious, his interviewer twice asks if he’s joking.
“I mean, there’s always a truth within a joke,” he responds.
Here’s the segment in question, which was uploaded to YouTube by Raphael Gellar, a freelance Israeli journalist.
This is not the first time Stoudemire has delved into homophobia. In 2012, after he struggled through an injury-wracked second season with the New York Knicks, a fan tweeted at him “you better come back a lot stronger and quicker to make up for this past season mannnnnn deadasss!!!” Stoudemire then sent the fan this via DM in response: “Fuck you. I don’t have to do anything fag.”
He received a $50,000 fine from the NBA and, according to TMZ, Stoudemire did apologize to the fan, sending a DM which read, “I just got off the plane and had time to think about it. Sorry bro!! No excuses. Won’t happen again.”
“Joke” or not, Stoudemire appears to have bought into one of the oldest forms of anti-gay prejudice. Namely, that straight men should constantly fear assault from gay men, particularly in the sanctified space that is the locker room shower. It’s bullshit. Grow up, Amar’e.
Vocativ has reached out to Stoudemire’s agent for comment and we will update this story should we receive a response.