The Kansas City Chiefs have barred running back Larry Johnson from practice and all other team activities as the club and the NFL look into comments he made Monday to reporters in the locker room.
According to multiple reports, Johnson — in telling reporters to get away from him — used a slur that referred to gays. He used the same slur on his Twitter feed. He has also posted demeaning remarks about Coach Todd Haley.
Hours after Kansas City’s 37-7 loss to San Diego on Sunday, Johnson tweeted several controversial remarks directed toward Haley and the coach’s lack of football experience, followed by later responses directed toward his Twitter followers which contained inflammatory remarks about gays.
In a reference to someones profile picture, Johnson called it a “fag pic” and called the person a “Christopher street boy,” a reference to a predominantly gay section in New York’s Greenwich Village. Johnson’s Twitter profile was later taken private and some posts were deleted.
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On Monday in the Chiefs locker room, Johnson used another gay slur after saying he wouldn’t speak to reporters.
Johnson, sitting next to second-year running back Jamaal Charles, told reporters that “I’m not talking till Thursday,” his usual day of speaking with reporters.
“Get your faggot ass out of here,” he said.
Johnson is drawing criticism from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation (GLAAD).
GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios called on the NFL to punish Johnson for using the gay slur to disparage reporters.
