The Boston Red Sox have suspended outfielder Jarren Duran for two games without pay following an incident where he directed a homophobic slur at a fan during a game against the Houston Astros. The altercation occurred during the sixth inning at Fenway Park, when Duran, struggling at the plate with two strikeouts, was heckled by a fan shouting, “Tennis racket! Tennis racket! You need a tennis racket!”
In response, Duran turned towards the fan and retorted with a curse word followed by a homophobic slur, an exchange that was unfortunately caught on a live mic during the broadcast.
Duran quickly issued an apology through the team, acknowledging the gravity of his words. “I used a truly horrific word,” he stated, expressing how “awful” he felt about the incident. The 27-year-old further addressed the situation on Monday, standing in the middle of the clubhouse before answering questions, and specifically apologizing to fans who had reached out to express their disappointment in him. “I’m sorry for my actions and I’m going to work on being better,” Duran said.
Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy confirmed that the club had been in contact with Major League Baseball regarding the incident immediately after the game. The suspension is part of the team’s response to Duran’s behavior, reflecting their stance against the use of offensive language and their commitment to maintaining respect and professionalism in the sport.
Photo from Jarren Duran Instagram
