Radio host Artie Lange played a media day interview with Super Bowl-bound San Francisco 49er cornerback Chris Culliver on his show Tuesday, and asked Culliver about the topic of gays in the NFL. Culliver expressed a deep distaste for the whole idea, Yahoo Sports reports:
"I don't do the gay guys man," said Culliver, whose Niners play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. "I don't do that. No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.
"Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can't be…in the locker room man. Nah."
When quizzed by Lange whether any homosexual athletes would need to keep their sexuality a secret in football, Culliver responded: "Yeah, come out 10 years later after that."
Watch the interview, AFTER THE JUMP…
The 49ers released a statement in response to Culliver's remarks:
“The San Francisco 49ers reject the comments that were made yesterday, and have addressed the matter with Chris. There is no place for discrimination within our organization at any level. We have and always will proudly support the LGBT community.”
The 49ers were the first NFL team to make an 'It Gets Better' video back in August. Culliver was not among the players who appeared in it.
Hudson Taylor, the Executive Director of Athlete Ally, which works to end homophobia in sports, released a statement condemning Culliver's remarks:
“Chris Culliver’s comments are disrespectful, discriminatory and dangerous, particularly for the young people who look up to him. His words underscore the importance of the Athlete Ally movement and the key role that professional athletes play in shaping an athletic climate that affirms and includes gay and lesbian players.
Culliver’s views are as marginal as they are misguided. We’re seeing more and more NFL players take a stand against homophobia in sports through our organization and we know that support at this level is only going to grow. Athlete Ally’s NFL Ambassadors Brendon Ayanbadejo of the AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens, Chris Kluwe of the Minnesota Vikings and Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns connect our organization and the NFL, help promote the mission to end homophobia in sports by speaking out to their teams, leagues and fan bases, and encourage their colleagues to join in the effort. It’s clear by their involvement and the incredible support they are receiving from NFL fans across the country that discrimination is on the fringe and has absolutely no place in sports.”
UPDATE: Culliver has now issued a statement. READ IT HERE.
