Ex-NBA Star Hardaway: "I Hate Gay People"

Posted Feb 15th 2007 12:15PM by TMZ Staff

Isaiah Washington has a new point-man on Team Gay-Bashers.

Former NBA star Tim Hardaway is catching fire today after he went on a gay-hating tirade yesterday afternoon on the radio. "I hate gay people, so I let it be known," said Hardaway. "I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic ... [Gay people] shouldn't be in the world or in the United States."

Hardaway spewed his venom on Miami's Sports Talk 790 The Ticket in response from a question from host Dan Le Batard about John Amaechi, the retired NBA player who has revealed in a new book that he's gay. NBA commissioner David Stern removed Hardaway from league-related appearances during this weekend's All-Star festivities in Las Vegas. Hardaway subsequently apologized, but not for his actual sentiments: "I shouldn't have said I hate gay people or anything like that. That was my mistake."

Amaechi responded last night to Hardaway's comments: "It is ridiculous, absurd, petty, bigoted and shows a lack of empathy that is gargantuan and unfathomable. But it is honest."

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(Page 1 of 18) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. dude was ballsy. that sound clip is hilarious. what a dumbass.

Posted at 12:26PM on Feb 15th 2007 by MrsC

2. Its a wonder grown men can't keep their opinions to themselves. So what alot of people don't agree with being a homosexual or like it but they don't necessarly need to air their opinions especially if they are in the public eye. Buy a muzzle if you can't control what comes out of your mouth.

Posted at 12:28PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Whitney

3. I don't think there's anything wrong with what he said. It's how he feels and even if it's not politically correct, it's his opinion and he's allowed to have one.

Don't make more of this than it deserves TMZ.

Posted at 12:29PM on Feb 15th 2007 by imitalian

4. If that's the way he feels he should be allowed to express it. I am so sick of people trying to tell other people how they should feel. Some people actually believe that homosexuality is immoral. What gives these bleeding hearts the right to tell them they are wrong? People should quit shoving their beliefs down other's throats. This is America and the last I heard we "are" still aloud to think what we want. Bravo to him for his honesty.

Posted at 12:30PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Kay

5. hardaway? sounds like a gay porn name to me! he's hiding something and using the homophobe attitude as a cover.

Posted at 12:33PM on Feb 15th 2007 by michelish

6. I don't like Black people and I don't like to be around Black people. I am Blackophobic ... [Black people] shouldn't be in the world or in the United States

Posted at 12:34PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Matty

7. Hey look. Why should he not be able to speak what he feels. He is not accountable to anyone that he doesn't want to be accountable to. If you are going to use Freedom of Speach, etc., to let gay people say what they want, then as an American he should be afforded the same rights.

Posted at 12:39PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Stephanie

8. He has a right to voice his opinion ,It's called free speech, whether you agree with him or not.

Posted at 12:44PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Free Speech

9. This is unbelievable! Do all famous people ride the short bus (as if I have ever heard of this idiot) ?

Posted at 12:44PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Dane Cook is NOT funny

10. Don't worry. He'll enter rehab and all will be right in the sports world again.

Posted at 12:46PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Dottie

11. Don't worry. He'll enter rehab and all will be right in the sports world again.

Posted at 12:46PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Dottie

12. what a tool this bozo is, can you imagine if someone said i hate blacks???? and how about eddie murphy's mr. wong from his new movie?? can you imagine someone wearing black face and acting stupid in a major movie??? i guess if your black you can be racist but the rest of us can't be...

Posted at 12:47PM on Feb 15th 2007 by danny g

13. As the old saying goes: "The truth hurts - but, it's the truth!

He's not the first nor will he be the last to state to truth! There's are a lot of us out there too! (who feel the same) - so, we're homophobic - TOO BAD!!!

Live with it! We have to live with them around us all the time! We don't like it - but, we deal with it (like bums in the street and the daralics everywhere).

Posted at 12:47PM on Feb 15th 2007 by Liz

14. What a f***ing ignorant piece of sh*t. He probably loves c**k that's why he said that. He's not sorry he said that. I hate when famous people say sh*t and then say oh I didn't mean it like that. Like "with all due respect...your mother's a whore." Just stick by with what you mean. I think most n*****s are dumb, I'm not sorry for that, it's my opinion!

Posted at 12:47PM on Feb 15th 2007 by He's a dumb n*****

15. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, sometimes things are better left unsaid though. If this is how he feels - good for him for sticking to his guns, but if he doesn't want to suffer the meida backlash, I guess he shouldn't have said this on the air.

Posted at 12:50PM on Feb 15th 2007 by LLS

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