On DeSean Jackson And Gay Slurs

While on a recent radio satellite radio appearance, some redneck caller asked an offensive and insulting question of DeSean Jackson. He responded by referring to the caller with a gay slur. You can hear the exchange here. It was a name that probably everyone he knew growing up called each other, I know that was the case for me growing up. It was probably the case for you too. Calling someone a "f*ggot" was a pretty common insult to hurl at someone growing up.

But, DeSean Jackson isn't a kid anymore. I'm not a kid anymore. While it may have been common to use those words then, it's just not ok now. The world is different than it was then and we know now that it's not ok to use those terms. They're hurtful to people, they're not acceptable and for a public figure that kids look up to like DeSean, his using them makes them think it's ok.

It's not and DeSean knows that. Afterward, he had this to say.

"In a recent radio interview a caller got really confrontational with me," Jackson said through a spokesperson. "I got very heated with the caller, took it a bit too far and did not mean to offend anybody. I meant no disrespect and a better choice of words was needed."

"I am sorry for using words that I know to be hurtful and unacceptable in a recent radio interview. Intolerance is unacceptable and I apologize to anyone I have offended. I have made a mistake and would like to make it clear that words I used meant no disrespect to the Gay and Lesbian community,"

DeSean Jackson is a good guy, we know that by his actions. He said something dumb and he owned up to it. I don't think there's any reason to take it further than that. Especially considering that there are guys like David Tyree in the NFL who are truly hateful to gays and actively working to limit their rights and freedoms.