Jarren Duran of the Red Sox has issued an apology after using a homophobic slur while addressing a fan in the stands at Fenway Park.
During the bottom of the sixth inning on Sunday, with the Red Sox trailing the Astros 10-0 in what would end as a 10-2 defeat and series sweep, Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran was overheard using a homophobic slur directed at a fan in the Fenway Park stands. At the time, Duran was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts against Astros pitcher Hunter Brown and was facing a 1-and-2 count with no outs and runners on the corners
Amid the Red Sox’s offensive struggles, which saw Brown limit them to just two hits while striking out nine over 5⅓ innings, a fan, also caught on a hot mic, shouted, “Tennis racket! Tennis racket!” In response, Duran turned to the fan and said, “Shut up you [expletive, expletive].
In a statement released by the Red Sox, Duran said, “During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word in response to a fan. I deeply regret the offense and disappointment my words caused. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization and, more importantly, to the LGBTQ community. I recognize that young fans look up to me as a role model, and I fell far short of that expectation tonight. I am committed to using this moment to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.
The Red Sox addressed the incident with Jarren Duran right after the game, stating, “We echo Jarren’s apology to our fans, particularly the LGBTQ community. Our goal is to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches, and staff on the importance of inclusivity.”
Throughout the game, Duran was visibly agitated. At one point, he was seen slamming an electric fan in the Sox’ dugout during an inning break.
This isn’t the first time Duran has had issues with fans. During the 2022 season, while the team was in Kansas City, he got into a verbal altercation with a group of fans after misplaying a ball in center field.
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