Minnesota Timberwolves’ star player Anthony Edwards, drafted no. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA draft, apologized this week after he faced some backlash over the weekend for calling a group of men being affectionate with each other “queer a** n****s.”
Edwards made the remarks in a video that was posted to his Instagram account in which he says: “Look at these queer a** n****s, man. Look at the world I came to.”
A caption on the video added, “Dese n****s different.”
Anthony Edwards is wild for this man 😭 pic.twitter.com/ccSkkDfe1E
— HaterMuse (@HaterMuse) September 11, 2022
In a statement attributed to team president Tim Connelly, the team said on Monday that they were “disappointed” by the remarks.
“We are disappointed in the language and actions Anthony Edwards displayed on social media,” Connelly said. “The Timberwolves are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming organization for all and apologize for the offense this has caused to so many.”
Edwards issued an apology on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, saying that he was “raised better” than what he said.
“What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredibly sorry,” Edwards said. “It’s unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, there’s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!”
What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredibly sorry. It’s unacceptable for me or anyone to use that language in such a hurtful way, there’s no excuse for it, at all. I was raised better than that!
— Anthony Edwards (@theantedwards_) September 11, 2022
ESPN reported that a spokesperson for the NBA confirmed that the league is investigating the incident which could potentially result in fines.
Past examples of NBA players who were fined for using anti-gay slurs have included the Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant, $50,000 in 2021, and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, $100,000 in 2011.